Chen Jiali, Yi Da, Ren Yiming, Zhou Xinfeng, Qi Zhi-Yang, Zhang Xiao-Yi, Shang Liqiang, Yao Jiaheng, Shen Bin, Zheng Wenge, Zhang Hao-Bin
Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, China.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Adv Mater. 2025 Jul 1:e2505839. doi: 10.1002/adma.202505839.
Stretchable conductors with conductive patterns are crucial for flexible electronics, which demand high conductivity and stable electrical properties under significant deformations. Liquid-metal (LM)-based composites patterned by selective sintering are promising for flexible electronics, however, short-circuiting may occur due to unintended activation of unsintered regions under strain. Hence, developing highly customizable LM-based stretchable conductors remains a persistent challenge. Stretchable LM/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) porous films are designed with controlled LM distribution through non-solvent-induced phase separation and surface modification of LM particles, which overcomes the limitations of conventional LM-based stretchable composites and enables the design of diverse flexible electronics with conductive patterns via imprinting. The porous structure increases spacing between LM particles and alleviates stress on LM particles, ensuring electrical insulation of the unimprinted regions during stretching. The customizable patterning process enables the films to be used for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and stripe patterns allow for dynamic tuning of EMI shielding performance. Additionally, they demonstrate excellent performance in wireless communications, tunable EM wave filters, and stretchable Joule heaters. Moreover, the solubility of TPU makes it easy to recycle LM from the film, thus demonstrating ideal recyclability. Outstanding electrical stability and versatile applications guarantee its significant impact on stretchable electronics.
具有导电图案的可拉伸导体对于柔性电子器件至关重要，这类器件要求在大幅变形下具备高导电性和稳定的电学性能。通过选择性烧结制备图案化的液态金属（LM）基复合材料在柔性电子器件领域颇具潜力，然而，在应变作用下，未烧结区域可能会意外激活，从而导致短路。因此，开发高度可定制的LM基可拉伸导体仍然是一个长期存在的挑战。通过非溶剂诱导相分离和LM颗粒的表面改性，设计出了LM分布可控的可拉伸LM/热塑性聚氨酯（TPU）多孔膜，克服了传统LM基可拉伸复合材料的局限性，并能够通过压印设计出具有导电图案的各种柔性电子器件。多孔结构增加了LM颗粒之间的间距，减轻了LM颗粒上的应力，确保了拉伸过程中未压印区域的电绝缘性。可定制的图案化工艺使这些薄膜可用于电磁干扰（EMI）屏蔽，条纹图案可实现EMI屏蔽性能的动态调谐。此外，它们在无线通信、可调谐电磁波滤波器和可拉伸焦耳加热器方面表现出色。此外，TPU的溶解性使得从薄膜中回收LM变得容易，从而展现出理想的可回收性。出色的电稳定性和多功能应用保证了其对可拉伸电子器件的重大影响。
