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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
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Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh
Published on: June 23, 2017
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Stretchable thin-film metal electronics enabled by multilayered nanomembranes.
Dongjun Jung1,2, Camille E Cunin2,3, Rajib Mondal2,4,5
1Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new multilayer platform using metal and porous elastomer nanomembranes. This breakthrough enables intrinsically stretchable metallic films with high conductivity, even under extreme strain, paving the way for advanced flexible electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Flexible Electronics
Background:
- Metallic thin films are crucial for flexible electronics.
- Their inherent brittleness limits applications in stretchable devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome the brittleness of metallic thin films under tensile strain.
- To develop intrinsically stretchable metallic films with high electrical conductivity.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a multilayer platform with alternating metal and porous elastomer nanomembranes.
- Utilizing exponential stacking for assembly.
- Investigating crack-bridging conductive pathways under strain.
Main Results:
- Achieved bulk-like conductance at strains exceeding 700% across various metals.
- Demonstrated synergistic scaling of electrical and mechanical performance with increasing layer number.
- Developed stretchable electrode arrays for in vivo electrophysiology.
Conclusions:
- The novel multilayer architecture effectively addresses the brittleness of metallic thin films.
- This platform enables high-performance, intrinsically stretchable metallic components for advanced electronic applications.
- Successfully demonstrated utility in stretchable electrode arrays for biological recordings and stimulation.
