Multifunctional Ultrastretchable Printed Soft Electronic Devices for Wearable Applications

• Published in: Advanced electronic materials Vol. 6; no. 2
• Main Authors: Tian, Bin, Liu, Qun, Luo, Chengsheng, Feng, Yu, Wu, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Ag fractal dendrites; flexible conductors; printed electronics; stretchable heaters; wearable strain sensors
• ISSN: 2199-160X; 2199-160X
• DOI: 10.1002/aelm.201900922

Multifunctionality is a major development trend in flexible stretchable wearable electronics, requiring integration of electrical conductivity, sensing performance, and heating management on a portable electronic device. Herein, the silver fractal dendrites (Ag FDs) conductive ink is formulated and deposited into the polystyrene–block–polyisoprene–block–polystyrene (SIS) thin films by a simple and cost‐effective transfer‐printing method for preparing the patterned multifunctional wearable electronics (MWEs). The MWEs based on Ag FDs ink‐38 wt% exhibit high electrical conductivity (4.86 × 105 S m−1), excellent sensing property (highly stretchability of 500% with a maximum gauge factor (GF) of 659.5), low‐voltage driving Joule heating performance (heated to 52.3 °C at 1 V), and good mechanical stability. As strain sensors, the MWEs have been successfully used to monitor the bending motion of the six major joints in the human body. As Joule heaters, the MWEs have been successfully used for thermochromism and hyperthermia. The developed MWEs prepared by a simple and low‐cost transfer‐printing possess highly promising application for next‐generation multifunctional and smart wearable electronics. A patterned multifunctional wearable electronic (MWE) based on silver fractal dendrite conductive ink fabricated by transfer‐printing methods is reported. It exhibits high electrical conductivity, excellent sensing performance, and low‐voltage driving Joule heating performance possesses highly promising application for next‐generation multifunctional and smart wearable electronics.