Stretchable Electrodes with Interfacial Percolation Network.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Stretchable electrodes are crucial for stretchable electronics but struggle to balance conductivity and stretchability.
• Existing designs often compromise one property for the other, limiting device performance and reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel conducting concept, the interfacial percolation network (PN), for creating stretchable electrodes with enhanced conductivity, stretchability, and stability.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of the interfacial PN by fabricating and testing electrodes based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) and liquid metal.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an interfacial PN comprising 2D and protruding 3D AgNW networks within an elastic polymer matrix.
• Modification of AgNW arrangement from horizontal to quasi-vertical using foreign polymer domains to create the protruding 3D PN.
• Characterization of electrode conductivity, stretchability, and resistance stability under mechanical strain.

Main Results:

• Achieved high conductivity of 13,500 S cm⁻¹ and stretchability of 660% with the AgNW interfacial PN.
• Demonstrated significantly lower resistance changes under strain compared to conventional 2D PN and 2D + 3D PN designs.
• Liquid metal interfacial PN electrodes maintained conductivity of 46,750 S cm⁻¹ after >600% deformation cycles.

Conclusions:

• The interfacial PN concept offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance stretchable electrodes.
• This approach significantly improves the conductivity, stretchability, and stability of stretchable electronic components.
• The findings have broad implications for the future design and application of stretchable electronics.