Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China.
Nature. 2023 Feb;614(7948):456-462. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z. Epub 2023 Feb 15.
Stretchable hybrid devices have enabled high-fidelity implantable and on-skin monitoring of physiological signals. These devices typically contain soft modules that match the mechanical requirements in humans and soft robots, rigid modules containing Si-based microelectronics and protective encapsulation modules. To make such a system mechanically compliant, the interconnects between the modules need to tolerate stress concentration that may limit their stretching and ultimately cause debonding failure. Here, we report a universal interface that can reliably connect soft, rigid and encapsulation modules together to form robust and highly stretchable devices in a plug-and-play manner. The interface, consisting of interpenetrating polymer and metal nanostructures, connects modules by simply pressing without using pastes. Its formation is depicted by a biphasic network growth model. Soft-soft modules joined by this interface achieved 600% and 180% mechanical and electrical stretchability, respectively. Soft and rigid modules can also be electrically connected using the above interface. Encapsulation on soft modules with this interface is strongly adhesive with an interfacial toughness of 0.24 N mm. As a proof of concept, we use this interface to assemble stretchable devices for in vivo neuromodulation and on-skin electromyography, with high signal quality and mechanical resistance. We expect such a plug-and-play interface to simplify and accelerate the development of on-skin and implantable stretchable devices.
可拉伸混合设备实现了对生理信号的高保真度植入式和皮肤监测。这些设备通常包含符合人类和软机器人机械要求的软模块、包含基于 Si 的微电子的硬模块以及保护封装模块。为了使系统具有机械顺应性，模块之间的互连需要能够承受可能限制其拉伸并最终导致脱粘失效的应力集中。在这里，我们报告了一种通用接口，可以可靠地将软、硬和封装模块连接在一起，以插件的方式形成坚固且高度可拉伸的设备。该接口由互穿聚合物和金属纳米结构组成，通过简单按压模块即可连接，无需使用糊剂。其形成由双相网络生长模型来描述。通过该接口连接的软-软模块分别实现了 600%和 180%的机械和电气拉伸性。软和硬模块也可以使用上述接口进行电气连接。使用该接口对软模块进行封装具有很强的附着力，界面韧性为 0.24 N mm。作为概念验证，我们使用该接口组装了用于体内神经调节和皮肤电生理的可拉伸设备，具有高信号质量和机械阻力。我们期望这种即插即用的接口能够简化和加速皮肤和可植入可拉伸设备的开发。
