Size-Selective Ionic Crosslinking Provides Stretchable Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Soft Robotics

Background:

• Mechanically compliant conductors are crucial for soft electronics and robotics.
• A key challenge is balancing mechanical properties with charge mobility in organic conductors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the trade-off between mechanical performance and charge mobility in organic conductors.
• To develop intrinsically deformable organic conductors with enhanced properties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized size-selective ionic crosslinking with length-regulated oligo(ethylene glycol) pendant groups and metal ions.
• Investigated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate composite materials.

Main Results:

• Achieved simultaneous improvement in softness, toughness, and mixed ionic-electronic conductivity.
• Demonstrated enhanced charge carrier accumulation in response to temperature gradients.
• Showcased improved stability against humidity for stretchable thermoelectric generators.

Conclusions:

• Size-selective ionic crosslinking offers a viable solution for creating high-performance, intrinsically deformable organic conductors.
• The developed materials are promising for advanced applications like stretchable thermoelectric generators.