Stretchable, Healable, and Degradable Soft Ionic Microdevices Based on Multifunctional Soaking-Toughened...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials
• Soft Electronics

Background:

• Electronic materials mimicking biological systems are crucial for advanced applications like bioelectronics and soft robotics.
• Ionic devices using gel electrolytes show promise for biomimetic systems due to their unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a straightforward approach for fabricating soft ionic microdevices using a versatile organohydrogel platform.
• To develop a material that functions as a free-standing, stretchable, adhesive, healable, and degradable support and electrolyte.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a gelatin/ferric-ion-cross-linked polyacrylic acid (GEL/PAA) dual dynamic supramolecular network.
• Toughening the organohydrogel via solvent displacement with a NaCl glycerol/water solution.
• Fabrication of microdevices using transfer printing of carbon-based microelectrodes onto the prestretched gel.

Main Results:

• Achieved high toughness (1.34 MJ·cm⁻³) and ionic conductivity (>7 mS·cm⁻¹).
• Demonstrated stretchability up to 300% strain.
• Microdevices exhibited dehydration resistance (>6 months), autonomous self-healing, and rapid degradation (

Conclusions:

• The developed organohydrogel platform enables the creation of highly stretchable and multifunctional ionic microdevices.
• This approach offers a promising route for life-like and sustainable electronic systems.
• The material's properties support applications in bioelectronics, electronic skin, and green electronics.