Stable, Highly Conductive, and Strain-Insensitive Supramolecular Elastomer Composite for Printable Self-Healing Soft...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Soft Electronics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stretchable and self-healing soft conductive materials are crucial for advanced applications like soft electronics, robotics, wearables, and bioelectronics.
• Current materials face challenges in simultaneously achieving high conductivity, strain stability, printability, self-healing, and adhesive properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel printable ink for soft electronics that overcomes existing limitations.
• To demonstrate a material with simultaneous high conductivity, strain insensitivity, self-healing, and adhesive capabilities.

Main Methods:

• A printable ink was formulated using liquid metal microparticles and carboxylic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes within a bimodal supramolecular elastomer matrix.
• Photothermal activation was employed to reorganize conductive pathways.
• The material's properties, including conductivity, strain response, elastic range, self-healing, and adhesion, were characterized.

Main Results:

• The material achieved high conductivity (> 20000 S·cm⁻¹ under strain) and exceptional strain insensitivity (R/R₀ < 3.95 up to 500%).
• It exhibited an elastic working range exceeding 700% and demonstrated autonomous self-healing capabilities.
• Reversible oxygen-boron and hydrogen bonding facilitated self-healing and direct assembly of hybrid electronic systems.
• A 3 × 5 pixel stretchable, self-healing, and waterproof display was successfully fabricated.

Conclusions:

• The developed printable ink represents a significant advancement in soft conductive materials.
• The material's unique properties enable the creation of robust, self-healing, and highly stretchable electronic devices.
• This innovation holds promise for future applications in wearable technology, bioelectronics, and advanced robotics.