4.8 Article

Self-Shaping Soft Electronics Based on Patterned Hydrogel with Stencil-Printed Liquid Metal

Journal

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume 31, Issue 47, Pages -

Publisher

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202105481

Keywords

liquid metals; morphing structures; soft electronics; stencil patterning; tough hydrogels

Funding

  1. National Natural Science Foundation of China [51973189, 51773179]
  2. Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China [LR19E030002]

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This study presents a hydrogel-based soft electronics with good mechanical performance, high sensitivity, and versatile functions by stencil printing of liquid metal on a tough hydrogel, which allows for self-shaping and 3D deformation. The HSE actively deforms to fix on objects or organs with complex geometries and maintains sensing functions. Such a device paves the way for implantable electronics with better fixation and interfacial contact with organs.
Hydrogel-based soft electronics (HSE) is promising as implantable devices due to the similarity of hydrogel substrates to biologic tissues. Most existing HSE devices are based on conducting hydrogels that usually have weak mechanical properties, low conductivity, and poor patternability. Reported here is an HSE with good mechanical performance, high sensitivity, and versatile functions by stencil printing of liquid metal on a tough hydrogel, facilitating integration of multiple sensing units. Self-shaping ability is imparted to the HSE by creating gradient structure in the hydrogel substrate. The resultant HSE actively deforms into 3D configurations with zero or nonzero Gaussian curvature to fix on objects or organs with sophisticated geometries and maintains the sensing functions. The versatilities and potential applications of this HSE are demonstrated by monitoring motions of a rice field eel and beatings of a rabbit heart. Such HSE based on morphing substrate should pave the way for implantable electronics with better fixation and interfacial contact with the organs. The concept of morphing hydrogel devices can be extended to other soft electronics with responsive polymer films or elastomers as the substrates.

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