Editorial Material
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Su, Ning Li, Lang Wang, Rui Lin, Yuqiao Zheng, Guoguang Rong, Mohamad Sawan
Summary: In this study, a biocompatible supercapacitor with high capacitance value, good transparency, stretchability, and biocompatibility is fabricated using a novel microfabrication approach. The supercapacitor is intended to be used as a power source for flexible printed circuits to stimulate the neural tissues of the brain.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chong Bai, Kang Ji, Shuxuan Feng, Jiaxue Zhang, Desheng Kong
Summary: This study introduces a low-cost and scalable method for creating an intrinsically stretchable aqueous battery. The battery exhibits excellent mechanical stretchability and electrochemical stability. A stretchable Zn-MnO2 battery was successfully assembled, demonstrating high specific capacity, good capacity retention, large stretchability, and durability against repetitive mechanical deformations. The research also showcases the practical suitability of stretchable batteries in wearable electronic devices.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sehyun Park, Seunghyeb Ban, Nathan Zavanelli, Andrew E. Bunn, Shinjae Kwon, Hyo-ryoung Lim, Woon-Hong Yeo, Jong-Hoon Kim
Summary: Recent advances in soft materials and nano-microfabrication have made it possible to develop flexible wearable electronics. Printing technologies have shown efficiency and compatibility with polymeric materials for manufacturing wearable electronics. In this study, fully screen-printable, skin-conformal electrodes were presented for low-cost and scalable manufacturing of wearable electronics. The screen printing process enables easy, cost-effective, and high-throughput manufacturing, while the ink used for the conductive layer printing allows for natural deformation under stretching and bending conditions. Real-time wireless electrocardiogram monitoring was successfully demonstrated using the printed electrodes, with an algorithm developed for accurate heart rate and respiratory rate calculations, as well as arrhythmia detection.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyunbum Kang, Yeongjun Lee, Gae Hwang Lee, Jong Won Chung, Young-Nam Kwon, Joo-Young Kim, Yasutaka Kuzumoto, Sangah Gam, Sung-Gyu Kang, Ji Young Jung, Ajeong Choi, Youngjun Yun
Summary: A stretchable and skin-conformable photodiode (PD) is essential for the development of next-generation wearable electronics. This study demonstrates intrinsically stretchable polymer-based PDs (is-PPDs) with high detectivity and high mechanical stretchability. By using elastomeric photoactive layers and conducting polymer-based stretchable transparent electrodes, is-PPDs exhibit excellent detectivity and stable performance even under large deformation.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Hyeong-Min Sim, Yu-Kyung Oh, Yunjeong Yu, Sunkook Kim, Han-Ki Kim
Summary: Highly-stretchable and semi-transparent superlattice electrodes based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/AgPdCu (APC)-PTFE were developed. The electrical and mechanical properties of the electrodes were optimized by controlling the PTFE thickness and the number of layers. The electrodes showed excellent mechanical stretchability and optical switching capability, making them suitable for stretchable electronics.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinlei Miao, Tingting Fan
Summary: With the emergence of smart wearable electronics, the demand for flexible and stretchable transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) has increased. Graphene, a novel two-dimensional carbon material, has unique properties that make it an ideal candidate for elastic TCEs. This review comprehensively summarizes the advancements in graphene-based elastic TCEs and discusses the strategies and mechanisms for achieving high mechanical flexibility and transparency.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chong Bai, Kang Ji, Hao Wang, Jiaxue Zhang, Gaohua Hu, Desheng Kong
Summary: Power sources compatible with wearable applications are needed for advancements in stretchable electronics. Stretchable microbatteries and microsupercapacitors have the potential for use due to their compact sizes, planar configurations, and versatility in system integration. However, the electrochemical performance of these miniaturized energy storage devices is limited by degradation during stretching. This study introduces a scalable fabrication method for an intrinsically stretchable Zn-MnO2 microbattery that exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and can be stretched up to 200% without performance loss.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kory Schlingman, Yiting Chen, R. Stephen Carmichael, Tricia Breen Carmichael
Summary: Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are simple electroluminescent devices that use a mechanism involving both ionic and electronic transport. Unlike organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), LECs have flourished in academic research due to their simple structure and unique features, leading to the development of flexible and stretchable light-emitting devices.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Abolfazl Harati, Amir Jahanshahi
Summary: A relatively inexpensive, flexible, and stretchable dry electrode for EEG recording is presented in this study. The electrode demonstrates good mechanical and electrical reliability, with electrical performance similar to standard wet Ag/AgCl electrodes. The mechanical endurance of the electrode is verified through custom-designed stroke tests under relatively severe conditions.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guoxi Luo, Jiaqi Xie, Jielun Liu, Qiankun Zhang, Yunyun Luo, Min Li, Wenke Zhou, Ke Chen, Zhikang Li, Ping Yang, Libo Zhao, Kwok Siong Teh, Xiaozhang Wang, Linxi Dong, Ryutaro Maeda, Zhuangde Jiang
Summary: As the use of smart wearable electronics becomes more prevalent, there is a need for stretchable, durable, and breathable electrodes that can easily integrate with the electronics and provide comfort to users over extended periods. However, progress in developing a scalable fabrication process for such electrodes has been limited. In this study, a novel stretchable polymer-carbon nanotube composite electrode was developed using a fibrous polyurethane mat decorated with conductive carbon nanotubes. The fabricated electrodes exhibited superior stretchability, conductivity, stability, durability, and air permeability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kory Schlingman, Gloria M. D'Amaral, R. Stephen Carmichael, Tricia Breen Carmichael
Summary: Liquid metal-embedded elastomers (LMEEs) are deformable composites made of liquid metal particles dispersed in an elastomeric matrix. A simple process is introduced to fabricate intrinsically conductive LMEEs with conductive surfaces by sedimenting microparticles of eutectic gallium-indium alloy in the elastomer. These materials are soft, stretchable, and exhibit stable conductivity.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Sakovsky, Jan Negele, Joseph Costantine
Summary: This work demonstrates the use of mechanical metamaterials for stretchable conductors and dielectrics in antennas, enabling control over coupling between mechanical stretching and electromagnetic reconfiguration. It shows that mechanical metamaterials can achieve similar frequency reduction upon stretching as monolithic conductors, while also providing a miniaturization effect.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhuocheng Yan, Yuting Liu, Jian Xiong, Bin Wang, Lingliang Dai, Min Gao, Taisong Pan, Weiqing Yang, Yuan Lin
Summary: 3D stretchable electronics are gaining interest due to their advanced functionalities compared to 1D or 2D counterparts. A hierarchical 3D serpentine-helix combination is proposed to overcome limitations in stretching ratio and enable large stretchability in multiple directions. This design allows for large mechanical forces, high structural stability, and exceptional electromechanical performance, demonstrated through wireless charging and epidermal electronic system applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuwen Chen, Shicheng Fan, Jiaming Qi, Ze Xiong, Zheng Qiao, Zixiong Wu, Joo Chuan Yeo, Chwee Teck Lim
Summary: A bilayer liquid-solid conductor (b-LSC) with amphiphilic properties is introduced in this study to interface reliably with both rigid electronics and elastomeric substrates. It exhibits high strain-insensitive conductivity, extreme stretchability, and negligible resistance change under ultra-high strain. The b-LSC can be used for various applications, such as stretchable sensor arrays, multi-layered stretchable displays, and highly integrated haptic user-interactive optoelectric E-skins.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yo Han Cho, Young-Geun Park, Sumin Kim, Jang-Ung Park
Summary: In recent years, significant efforts have been made to develop 3D electrodes for bioelectronic devices, allowing for better interfaces with nonplanar and soft biological systems. These 3D bioelectrodes have shown great potential for applications in 3D organoids and deep tissues, with research focusing on electrical stimulation and neural signal recording.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
