Thin flexible devices require transparent electrodes resistant to mechanical bending and electrically reliable, limiting the use of transparent conductive oxides (TCO). On plastic substrates, we obtain a sandwiched TCO/Ag/TCO multilayer with reduced thickness, increased resistance to bending and optima electrical conductivity. Such properties are due to the 10 nm thick stress-free nanogranular Ag film obtained by gas phase deposition. Electrical stability and optical transmittance are related to the low stress of the interlayer calculated by finite element simulation of the bending process.

Non-linear excitation can be exploited to fabricate 3D microstructures with features down to few hundreds of micrometers. Different 3D shapes, mechanical and chemical properties can be obtained: acrylic resins offer more rigid substrates while proteinaceous inks provide fully biocompatible softer microstructures. After a brief overview of the application to polymers of multi-photon laser polymerization, we will discuss two wide fields of application: acrylic resins microstructures as imaging windows for invivo imaging and biomaterial testing, and proteinaceous hydrogel microstructures for cell growth and differentiation and cell mechanobiology.

Photomobile-polymers (PMP) whose movement is induced and controlled by sunlight and/or artificial light are the cutting-edge innovation that was needed to get to the turning point of conversion of light in mechanical energy. In this work we compare well known PMP formulations, based on azobenzene liquid crystals, with novel approaches developed during the EU founded project PULSE-COM ((FET Horizon 2020 Grant agreement No 863227, https://www.pulsecom-h2020.eu/) to let them operate in a new field of piezo-phototronics.