Engineers at Waseda University have created a new “kiri-origami” structure to make high-performance electronics stretchable without sacrificing component quality. The trick lies in combining two ancient Japanese techniques: origami (folding) and kirigami (cutting). Origami keeps flat, rigid panels ideal for mounting components, while kirigami enables large-area stretch, but struggles when mounting stiff elements, reports Tech Xplore.
The kiri-origami design weaves both: it uses a mutual orthogonal cutting pattern to create square panels, while triangular joints with folding lines act like hinges. When stretched, the squares rise and rotate, opening slits and folding into a zig-zag form around the hinge—a structure that stretches and still supports rigid mounts.
In a perfect theoretical model, i.e., “rigid origami,” panels don’t deform, and hinges move frictionlessly. In real life, panels warp and hinges resist folding, which researchers call the “elastic origami” model. To solve this, they added buffer structures, such as trapezoidal, spring-like edges, that connect the kiri-origami body to clamps. These buffers stretch and distribute tension evenly. Coupled with biaxial stretching, this setup mimics the rigid-origami deformation across the whole sheet.
To show it works, they built a stretchable LED matrix: more than 500 hinges and 145 LEDs folded uniformly, and the electronic function remained intact after deformation.
This hybrid structure solves two hard problems at once—holding fragile electronics and covering large areas while stretching reliably—and points toward future gadgets such as flexible displays, wearable sensors, and soft robotic components.