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A molecular design approach towards elastic and multifunctional polymer electronics

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Zheng

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Zhiao Yu

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Song Zhang

    (The University of Southern Mississippi)

  • Xian Kong

    (Stanford University)

  • Wesley Michaels

    (Stanford University)

  • Weichen Wang

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Gan Chen

    (Stanford University
    Stanford University)

  • Deyu Liu

    (Stanford University)

  • Jian-Cheng Lai

    (Stanford University)

  • Nathaniel Prine

    (The University of Southern Mississippi)

  • Weimin Zhang

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kaust Solar Center (KSC)
    Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford)

  • Shayla Nikzad

    (Stanford University)

  • Christopher B. Cooper

    (Stanford University)

  • Donglai Zhong

    (Stanford University)

  • Jaewan Mun

    (Stanford University)

  • Zhitao Zhang

    (Stanford University)

  • Jiheong Kang

    (Stanford University
    Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST))

  • Jeffrey B.-H. Tok

    (Stanford University)

  • Iain McCulloch

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kaust Solar Center (KSC)
    Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford)

  • Jian Qin

    (Stanford University)

  • Xiaodan Gu

    (The University of Southern Mississippi)

  • Zhenan Bao

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Next-generation wearable electronics require enhanced mechanical robustness and device complexity. Besides previously reported softness and stretchability, desired merits for practical use include elasticity, solvent resistance, facile patternability and high charge carrier mobility. Here, we show a molecular design concept that simultaneously achieves all these targeted properties in both polymeric semiconductors and dielectrics, without compromising electrical performance. This is enabled by covalently-embedded in-situ rubber matrix (iRUM) formation through good mixing of iRUM precursors with polymer electronic materials, and finely-controlled composite film morphology built on azide crosslinking chemistry which leverages different reactivities with C–H and C=C bonds. The high covalent crosslinking density results in both superior elasticity and solvent resistance. When applied in stretchable transistors, the iRUM-semiconductor film retained its mobility after stretching to 100% strain, and exhibited record-high mobility retention of 1 cm2 V−1 s−1 after 1000 stretching-releasing cycles at 50% strain. The cycling life was stably extended to 5000 cycles, five times longer than all reported semiconductors. Furthermore, we fabricated elastic transistors via consecutively photo-patterning of the dielectric and semiconducting layers, demonstrating the potential of solution-processed multilayer device manufacturing. The iRUM represents a molecule-level design approach towards robust skin-inspired electronics.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Zheng & Zhiao Yu & Song Zhang & Xian Kong & Wesley Michaels & Weichen Wang & Gan Chen & Deyu Liu & Jian-Cheng Lai & Nathaniel Prine & Weimin Zhang & Shayla Nikzad & Christopher B. Cooper & Donglai , 2021. "A molecular design approach towards elastic and multifunctional polymer electronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25719-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25719-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao-Siu Tan & Zaini Jamal & Desmond W. Y. Teo & Hor-Cheng Ko & Zong-Long Seah & Hao-Yu Phua & Peter K. H. Ho & Rui-Qi Png & Lay-Lay Chua, 2024. "Optimization of fluorinated phenyl azides as universal photocrosslinkers for semiconducting polymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Hung-Chin Wu & Shayla Nikzad & Chenxin Zhu & Hongping Yan & Yang Li & Weijun Niu & James R. Matthews & Jie Xu & Naoji Matsuhisa & Prajwal Kammardi Arunachala & Reza Rastak & Christian Linder & Yu-Qing, 2023. "Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor thin films with multi-modal energy dissipation and high relative stretchability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Shuzhen Yan & Kaiming Hu & Shuai Chen & Tiantian Li & Wenming Zhang & Jie Yin & Xuesong Jiang, 2022. "Photo-induced stress relaxation in reconfigurable disulfide-crosslinked supramolecular films visualized by dynamic wrinkling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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