Self-Maintainable Electronic Materials with Skin-Like Characteristics Enabled by Graphene-PEDOT:PSS Fillers

Conventional devices lack the adaptability and responsiveness inherent in the design of nature. Therefore, they cannot autonomously maintain themselves in natural environments. This limitation is primarily because of using rigid and fragile material components for their construction, which hinders their ability to adapt and evolve in changing environments. Moreover, they often cannot self-repair after injuries or significant damage. Even devices with self-healing, soft, and responsive properties often fail to seamlessly integrate all these attributes into a single, scalable, and cohesive platform. In this study, a significant breakthrough is introduced by utilizing graphene-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (graphene-PEDOT:PSS) fillers to transform a typically weak, insulating, and jelly-like material into a soft electronic material with properties akin to those of living organisms, such as skin tissue. The developed electronic materials exhibit a range of other capabilities attributed to the hierarchical organization originating from filler enhancement, which includes methods such as heat regulation, 3D printability, and multiplex sensing. The introduction of this new class of materials can facilitate the self-maintenance of life-like soft robots and bioelectronics that can be seamlessly integrated within dynamic environments, such as the human body, while demonstrating the ability to sense, respond, and adapt to challenging environments.