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Fatigue-free artificial ionic skin toughened by self-healable elastic nanomesh

Author

Listed:
  • Jiqiang Wang

    (Donghua University)

  • Baohu Wu

    (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) Forschungszentrum Jülich)

  • Peng Wei

    (Donghua University)

  • Shengtong Sun

    (Donghua University)

  • Peiyi Wu

    (Donghua University)

Abstract

Robust ionic sensing materials that are both fatigue-resistant and self-healable like human skin are essential for soft electronics and robotics with extended service life. However, most existing self-healable artificial ionic skins produced on the basis of network reconfiguration suffer from a low fatigue threshold due to the easy fracture of low-energy amorphous polymer chains with susceptible crack propagation. Here we engineer a fatigue-free yet fully healable hybrid ionic skin toughened by a high-energy, self-healable elastic nanomesh, resembling the repairable nanofibrous interwoven structure of human skin. Such a design affords a superhigh fatigue threshold of 2950 J m−2 while maintaining skin-like compliance, stretchability, and strain-adaptive stiffening response. Moreover, nanofiber tension-induced moisture breathing of ionic matrix leads to a record-high strain-sensing gauge factor of 66.8, far exceeding previous intrinsically stretchable ionic conductors. This concept creates opportunities for designing durable ion-conducting materials that replicate the unparalleled combinatory properties of natural skins more precisely.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiqiang Wang & Baohu Wu & Peng Wei & Shengtong Sun & Peiyi Wu, 2022. "Fatigue-free artificial ionic skin toughened by self-healable elastic nanomesh," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32140-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32140-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wei Zhang & Baohu Wu & Shengtong Sun & Peiyi Wu, 2021. "Skin-like mechanoresponsive self-healing ionic elastomer from supramolecular zwitterionic network," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Mengxue Li & Lili Chen & Yiran Li & Xiaobin Dai & Zhekai Jin & Yucheng Zhang & Wenwen Feng & Li-Tang Yan & Yi Cao & Chao Wang, 2022. "Superstretchable, yet stiff, fatigue-resistant ligament-like elastomers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Wen Yang & Vincent R. Sherman & Bernd Gludovatz & Eric Schaible & Polite Stewart & Robert O. Ritchie & Marc A. Meyers, 2015. "On the tear resistance of skin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, May.
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    5. Mutian Hua & Shuwang Wu & Yanfei Ma & Yusen Zhao & Zilin Chen & Imri Frenkel & Joseph Strzalka & Hua Zhou & Xinyuan Zhu & Ximin He, 2021. "Strong tough hydrogels via the synergy of freeze-casting and salting out," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7847), pages 594-599, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xun Zhao & Yihao Zhou & William Kwak & Aaron Li & Shaolei Wang & Marklin Dallenger & Songyue Chen & Yuqi Zhang & Allison Lium & Jun Chen, 2024. "A reconfigurable and conformal liquid sensor for ambulatory cardiac monitoring," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Wenxi Huang & Qiongling Ding & Hao Wang & Zixuan Wu & Yibing Luo & Wenxiong Shi & Le Yang & Yujie Liang & Chuan Liu & Jin Wu, 2023. "Design of stretchable and self-powered sensing device for portable and remote trace biomarkers detection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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