Super durable electrospun stretchable electrode -- a new type of flexible electrode

Introduction: The development of wearable electronics is still restricted by the lack of a stable and durable flexible stretchable conductor. The team from the Ningbo Institute of materials science and engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new flexible electrode with low resistance, high stability and stretchability. This electrode solves the problems of incompatibility between conductivity and tensile ratio of flexible electrodes, as well as unstable electrical performance under cyclic deformation.

Research team developed a super stable and stretchable electrode with a flexible adaptive conductive interface. Polyurethane (TPU) electrospinning and liquid metal (LM) micro and nano particles are used to create in situ composites through electrospinning and electrostatic spraying, and then mechanically activated to form nano liquid metal structure films. Preparation of a flexible and adaptive stretchable electrode (NHSE).

NHSE is a highly robust and stretchable electrode based on nano liquid metal (LM), with an adaptive interface able to simulate water network interaction. NHSE exhibited excellent mechanical and electrical properties, with only a 350% resistance change at 570% elongation. The outstanding feature of this device is its adaptive interface between the LM and nanofiber scaffold, which simulates the interaction between water and the network.

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the (I) electrospray and electrospinning process for manufacturing (II) LM nanoparticles @ TPU scaffold complex (lnsc), which is then activated to form (III) nhse

In situ assembly based on electrospun elastic nanofiber elastic scaffold (thermoplastic polyether urethane, TPU) and electrospray LM nanoparticle film. It is not only insensitive to a large degree of mechanical tension, but also immune to cyclic deformation. Its robustness and stability have been verified under various conditions. Including long-term exposure to air, periodic immersion and elasticity to mechanical damage.The combination of conductivity, stretchability and durability makes nhse a promising conductor / electrode solution for flexible / stretchable electronic products.

The electrode has good biocompatibility and low toxicity, and its electrical properties also have excellent stability and durability. The preparation of super stable stretchable electrode can be realized. It has good application scenarios in the fields of wearable devices, human physiological signal detection, human-computer interaction interface, stretchable conductor and heated electronic skin.

reference:Cao J, Liang F, Li H, et al. Ultra-robust stretchable electrode for e-skin: In situ assembly using a nanofiber scaffold and liquid metal to mimic water-to-net interaction.InfoMat.2022;4(4):e12302.doi:10.1002/inf2.12302

Original link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/inf2.12302

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