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A Generic Strategy to Create Mechanically Interlocked Nanocomposite/Hydrogel Hybrid Electrodes for Epidermal
Qian Wang1,2, Yanyan Li1,2, Yong Lin1,2
1College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
Nano-Micro Letters
|January 12, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed mechanically interlocked hybrid electrodes for better skin contact in wearable electronics. This novel physical bonding method improves interfacial toughness and ensures reliable performance for epidermal devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Stretchable electronics require compliant conductors for intimate body integration.
- Metallic nanostructure/elastomer composites face challenges in achieving conformal skin contact.
- Existing hybrid electrodes often need chemical modifications for bonding, altering material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a facile fabrication approach for mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrid electrodes.
- To overcome limitations of chemical modifications in hybrid electrode fabrication.
- To enhance the interfacial bonding and skin-device interface for epidermal electronics.
Main Methods:
- Thermally laminating soft microfoams onto silver nanowire nanocomposites to create a porous interface.
- Forming an interpenetrating network between the microfoam interface and hydrogel.
- Utilizing a physically based, mechanically interlocking strategy compatible with various polymers.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 28-fold improvement in interfacial toughness compared to directly stacked hybrids.
- Demonstrated firm skin attachment and low contact impedance using tissue-adhesive hydrogels.
- Successfully integrated the hybrid electrodes into an epidermal sleeve for hand gesture recognition via muscle contraction sensing.
Conclusions:
- Mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrids offer a promising platform for epidermal devices.
- The microfoam-enabled bonding strategy provides a robust and versatile method for creating hybrid electrodes.
- This approach enhances the performance and applicability of wearable electronic systems.
