A molecular design approach towards elastic and multifunctional polymer electronics.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Electronics Engineering

Background:

• Next-generation wearable electronics demand improved mechanical properties like elasticity and solvent resistance.
• Existing stretchable electronics often compromise on robustness or electrical performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a molecular design concept for achieving simultaneous elasticity, solvent resistance, and high charge carrier mobility in polymeric semiconductors and dielectrics.
• To demonstrate the application of this concept in high-performance, robust stretchable transistors.

Main Methods:

• Development of covalently-embedded in-situ rubber matrix (iRUM) formation by mixing iRUM precursors with polymer electronic materials.
• Utilizing azide crosslinking chemistry with differential reactivity towards C-H and C=C bonds for controlled composite film morphology.
• Fabrication of stretchable transistors using iRUM-modified semiconductor and dielectric layers.

Main Results:

• The iRUM approach yielded films with superior elasticity and solvent resistance due to high covalent crosslinking density.
• Stretchable transistors with iRUM-semiconductor films maintained high mobility (1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) after 100% strain and 1000 stretching cycles at 50% strain.
• Achieved a record cycling life of 5000 cycles, significantly outperforming previously reported stretchable semiconductors.
• Demonstrated facile photo-patterning for multilayer device fabrication, showcasing solution-processing potential.

Conclusions:

• The iRUM represents a versatile molecular design strategy for creating robust, high-performance skin-inspired electronics.
• This approach overcomes limitations of current stretchable materials, enabling practical applications in wearable devices.
• The method facilitates solution-processed multilayer device manufacturing for complex electronic systems.