Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Bioinspired crystallization refinement strategy enables ion-conductive elastomers with an ultra-wide
Bai Huang1, Zongming Lv1, Meilin Zhang1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, No. 100, Daxuedong Road, Xixiangtang District, Nanning 530004, China. huangbai@gxu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Maintaining signal reliability under various strains is crucial for soft materials, but achieving strain-insensitive characteristics under high stretchability remains challenging. Here, we establish a crystallization-mediated regulation framework to achieve intrinsically strain-insensitive ion-conductive elastomers. Inspired by biomineralization, nanocellulose was introduced to regulate the crystallization of polycation chains to construct a continuous ion transport channel that is not affected by strain. The prepared ion-conductive elastomer (PUPD-0.50) has a strain-insensitive signal transmission fidelity window of up to 1100%, attributed to the "rigid-soft" conductive network containing refined crystal domains. Even at 1200% strain, the gauge factor (GF) value is as low as 0.12. Meanwhile, it exhibits ultrahigh stretchability (1256%), high toughness (17.16 MJ m-3), high ionic conductivity (1.22 × 10-2 S m-1), and antibacterial properties. Additionally, its sensing applications in both contact and non-contact modes are successfully validated. The sensor can quickly output voltage signals by sensing the human electric field, with a response/recovery time as low as 60 ms. Remarkably, the output signal strength and response rate remain stable even under 500% strain, so it can stably transmit encrypted signals. This study provides an effective route to stabilize ionic transport, establishing a generalizable design paradigm for strain-insensitive ionic conductors in flexible electronics and human-machine interfaces.
Related Concept Videos
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...

