From flexible electronics to flexible photonics: a brief overview

The development of the information technology and, very recently, of new application scenarios like Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 has pushed the research towards new technological platforms. In this frame, the spatial freedom permitted by flexible short-range connections and flexible devices has become as important as "classical" parameters such as low weight, low power consumption, and electromagnetic immunity. Accordingly, first the flexible electronics and later the flexible photonics have produced innovative components and devices. The present paper aims at presenting a brief overview of this broad area, underlining the achievements and the remaining challenges in the different routes to the manufacturing of flexible photonic devices. Material platforms remain at the core of such developments, and it is interesting to note that glassy materials constitute a fundamental piece in the present and future scenario.