Anti-friction gold-based stretchable electronics enabled by interfacial diffusion-induced cohesion

Abstract Stretchable electronics that prevalently adopt chemically inert metals as sensing layers and interconnect wires have enabled high-fidelity signal acquisition for on-skin applications. However, the weak interfacial interaction between inert metals and elastomers limit the tolerance of the de...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jie Cao, Xusheng Liu, Jie Qiu, Zhifei Yue, Yang Li, Qian Xu, Yan Chen, Jiewen Chen, Hongfei Cheng, Guozhong Xing, Enming Song, Ming Wang, Qi Liu, Ming Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45393-x
Description
Summary:Abstract Stretchable electronics that prevalently adopt chemically inert metals as sensing layers and interconnect wires have enabled high-fidelity signal acquisition for on-skin applications. However, the weak interfacial interaction between inert metals and elastomers limit the tolerance of the device to external friction interferences. Here, we report an interfacial diffusion-induced cohesion strategy that utilizes hydrophilic polyurethane to wet gold (Au) grains and render them wrapped by strong hydrogen bonding, resulting in a high interfacial binding strength of 1017.6 N/m. By further constructing a nanoscale rough configuration of the polyurethane (RPU), the binding strength of Au-RPU device increases to 1243.4 N/m, which is 100 and 4 times higher than that of conventional polydimethylsiloxane and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene-based devices, respectively. The stretchable Au-RPU device can remain good electrical conductivity after 1022 frictions at 130 kPa pressure, and reliably record high-fidelity electrophysiological signals. Furthermore, an anti-friction pressure sensor array is constructed based on Au-RPU interconnect wires, demonstrating a superior mechanical durability for concentrated large pressure acquisition. This chemical modification-free approach of interfacial strengthening for chemically inert metal-based stretchable electronics is promising for three-dimensional integration and on-chip interconnection.
ISSN:2041-1723