Polynorbornene exhibits significant potential as a structural material in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) owing to its dielectric constant and compatibility with silicon-based microfabrication processes. A commercially available version of polynorbornene, Avatrel™ 2585P, is particularly attractive for bioMEMS applications because of its low moisture absorption characteristics, photodefinability, and potential biocompatibility. Allison E. Hess-Dunning, Russell L. Smith, and Christian A. Zorman investigate surface modification of Avatrel™ 2585P by oxygen plasma treatment for bonding to glass as a first step to developing a fabrication platform for polynorbornene-based microfluidics. The cover shows a released polynorbornene electrode array. DOI: 10.1002/app.40969

The need for biocompatible electronics is driving the search for electronically active materials that may be used for transferring integrated circuits onto flexible substrates. Alain Nogaret reviews the recent development of flexible materials that specifically make use of transport perpendicular to graphite planes to obtain negative differential resistance in their current-voltage curves. Perpendicular transport presents an attractive alternative to in-plane transport in graphene as the lack of energy band gap makes it difficult to turn off the in-plane conduction through the action on an electrostatic gate. The cover shows a graphite silicone hall bar fabricated on a pristine silicone substrate. DOI: 10.1002/app.40169