The Promise and Pressure of Flexible Electronics

Hello readers,

There are certain areas of research that require more interdisciplinary input than others. I have found these areas to be more exciting for me because they force more collaboration in order to progress. Naturally, I think this has more impact in producing real-world applications. This is because the potential applications have been refined and improved by having more diverse input from different backgrounds.

This leads on to the topic for this issue: flexible electronics. In a nutshell, these are thin devices which can bend, stretch and even fold without breaking. These are built using different components but generally require conductive polymers, ultra-thin substrates, and scalable manufacturing techniques – which brings together Chemists, Material Scientists, and Engineers. They are already being used in foldable phones and wearable health monitors.

Personally, I can appreciate the impact in healthcare, for example, where flexible biosensors would be able to track heart rate, hydration levels, glucose levels, and other metrics. This allows for the obtainment of real-time data without using bulky machines! You can imagine the impact flexible electronics can have in the real world as they enable electronics to be fit into new environments. Imagine fitting these into clothing, infrastructure, robotics, skin patches, packaging, and more!

🔍 Why This Matters Now

Several factors make flexible electronics important considering the times we live in:

1. Demand for faster health diagnoses 🏥
   This allows us to identify indicators of concern related to people’s health. A faster diagnosis means that health issues can be dealt with faster. Flexible electronics are well-suited for health monitoring applications due to their ability to fold.

2. The race to become a leader in technology 🌍
   Naturally, the different governments in the world want to strengthen their position and be seen as a leader in state-of-the-art technologies. Investment in advanced manufacturing and important technologies would also strengthen their economies.

3. The shift away from traditional silicon-based electronics ⚙️
   Silicon has traditionally been used in many different types of electronics, but they are inherently stiff and more expensive to manufacture. Companies may want to move away due to supply chain issues in obtaining conventional chips made from silicon.

4. A focus in sustainability 🌱
   Different governments are enforcing policies to reduce waste and become more energy efficient. Flexible electronics are generally lighter and more energy-efficient to manufacture compared to traditional types of electronics.

📊 A Closer Look at the Market

This type of technology is redefining where electronics exist and therefore creating completely new markets.

The flexible electronics market had a net worth of $29.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $70.97 billion by 2032. This yields a CAGR of 12% across that period.

Growth is being driven by:

• Consumer electronics
• Healthcare
• Automotive
• Energy

Startups focusing on flexible sensors, e-textiles, and biodegradable substrates are attracting a substantial amount of investment.
The key companies operating in this market include but are not limited to:
MFLEX (U.S.), OLEDWorks (U.S.), General Electric (U.S.), Pragmatic (U.K.), The 3M Company (U.S.), Imprint Energy Inc. (U.S.), and FlexEnable Limited (U.K.)

Furthemore, advances in roll-to-roll printing and conductive inks are making production more scalable and cost-effective.
In short, both supply and demand are aligning for rapid expansion.

🧠 My Take: Rethinking the Hype and the Hidden Impact of Flexible Electronics

While forecasts for flexible electronics often tout billion-dollar market sizes and revolutionary applications, these projections rely on a few big assumptions.

The first assumption is that the materials will scale comfortably. However, there are many factors to consider in mass production which are not highlighted in the prototype stages. These factors are things like yield consistency (relates to device reproducibility), environmental degradation (from moisture, light), and interface compatibility with existing rigid systems. These are hurdles yet to be resolved at scale which requires further research and development – and therefore expensive costs due to the knowledge and diverse skillsets required.

Another overlooked assumption, which is related to the previous point, is the durability of the whole electronic system. Sensors and electronic components can be made flexible – Yes. However, assuming that the entire components within the system remain flexible without losing its performance can be a bit of a stretch (no pun intended). This is because the previous examples are still single-use or short-lifetime, thus limiting their real-world viability. Unless these devices are used in a disposable context, they will require further development to ensure they meet industry standards.

Related to the above, another drawback is the performance trade-off. Flexible electronics, especially those built using printing or organic methods, generally offer lower electron mobility and computational power than silicon. Silicon-based electronics, on the other hand, have been used for many decades and the factors affecting their performance is better understood. This means that silicon-based electronics may have the capability to adapt to meet newer demands in technology. In contrast, the knowledge surrounding organic electronics is still developing. A likely scenario is that organic electronics may not replace traditional electronics but rather complement them by operating as local sensors.

Overall, I do not think that flexible electronics will replace traditional tech, but it will still play a role in developing current electronics.

Thanks for reading,
Qasim Ibraheeme