Kinetically controlled metal-elastomer nanophases for environmentally resilient stretchable electronics

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Soosang Chae - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Korea University of Technology and Education (Author)
  • Won J. Choi - , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Author)
  • Lisa Julia Nebel - , Chair of Numerical Methods of Partial Differential Equations (Author)
  • Chang Hee Cho - , Gachon University (Author)
  • Quinn A. Besford - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • André Knapp - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Pavlo Makushko - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Yevhen Zabila - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Oleksandr Pylypovskyi - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Min Woo Jeong - , Kyung Hee University (Author)
  • Stanislav Avdoshenko - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Oliver Sander - , Chair of Numerical Methods of Partial Differential Equations (Author)
  • Denys Makarov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Yoon Jang Chung - , Korea University (Author)
  • Andreas Fery - , Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials (Author)
  • Jin Young Oh - , Kyung Hee University (Author)
  • Tae Il Lee - , Gachon University (Author)

Abstract

Nanophase mixtures, leveraging the complementary strengths of each component, are vital for composites to overcome limitations posed by single elemental materials. Among these, metal-elastomer nanophases are particularly important, holding various practical applications for stretchable electronics. However, the methodology and understanding of nanophase mixing metals and elastomers are limited due to difficulties in blending caused by thermodynamic incompatibility. Here, we present a controlled method using kinetics to mix metal atoms with elastomeric chains on the nanoscale. We find that the chain migration flux and metal deposition rate are key factors, allowing the formation of reticular nanophases when kinetically in-phase. Moreover, we observe spontaneous structural evolution, resulting in gyrified structures akin to the human brain. The hybridized gyrified reticular nanophases exhibit strain-invariant metallic electrical conductivity up to 156% areal strain, unparalleled durability in organic solvents and aqueous environments with pH 2–13, and high mechanical robustness, a prerequisite for environmentally resilient devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number3071
Number of pages12
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 9 Apr 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-7200-0312/work/157766758
ORCID /0000-0003-1093-6374/work/157769638
Scopus 85189965232

Keywords

Library keywords