3D architectures have been long harnessed to create lightweight yet strong cellular materials; however, the study regarding how 3D architectures facilitate the design of soft materials is at the incipient stage. Here, we demonstrate that 3D architectures can greatly facilitate the design of an intrinsically stretchable lattice conductor. We show that 3D architectures can be harnessed to enhance the overall stretchability of the soft conductors, reduce the effective density, enable resistive sensing of the large deformation of curved solids, and improve monitoring of a wastewater stream. Theoretical models are developed to understand the mechanical and conductive behaviors of the lattice conductor. We expect this type of lattice conductors can potentially inspire various designs of 3D-architected electronics for diverse applications from healthcare devices to soft robotics.
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Tough-interface-enabled stretchable electronics using non-stretchable polymer semiconductors and conductors
- Award ID(s):
- 1925790
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10494555
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Nature
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Nanotechnology
- Volume:
- 17
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 1748-3387
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1265 to 1271
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract π‐Conjugated polymers have drawn broad interest in flexible electronics due to their solution processability, light weight, and a combination of conducting and light‐emitting properties. However, achieving mechanical endurance and stretchability in freestanding conjugated polymers is still difficult. Surface‐assembly‐induced light‐emitting polymer nanosheets with prodigious mechanical strength and charge transport are reported. Transferring freestanding polymer films onto various templates with conformal contact results in electrical and optical strain sensors with a gauge factor of ≈29. Subsequent geometric engineering into kirigami structures of the polymer sheets further extends the strain accommodations 20‐fold without compromising electric conductivity or fluorescence properties. These as‐prepared semiconducting polymers represent a possible new material for emerging stretchable electronics.
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01246-6
