Printable Metal-Polymer Conductors for Highly Stretchable Bio-Devices

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biocompatible Electronics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stretchable conductors are crucial for bridging electronics and biology.
• Existing materials are often toxic, expensive, and lack durability under deformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel printable, highly stretchable, and biocompatible metal-polymer conductors.
• To overcome limitations of current stretchable conductor technologies.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a casting and peeling technique with patterned liquid metal particles.
• Forming surface-embedded metal within polymeric hosts.
• Achieving high resolution patterning and high throughput fabrication.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated conductors with excellent stretchability (2,316 S/cm at 500% strain) and repeatability (ΔR/R <3% after 10,000 cycles).
• Achieved high resolution (15 μm) and high throughput (∼2,000 samples/hour) fabrication at low cost.
• Successfully applied conductors in stretchable circuits, motion sensors, wearable keyboards, and cell electroporation.

Conclusions:

• The novel metal-polymer conductors offer a viable solution for demanding electronic applications requiring extreme deformation.
• This fabrication strategy overcomes challenges associated with liquid metal handling and particle sintering.
• The developed materials pave the way for advanced biocompatible and stretchable electronic devices.