Strain-sensitive stretchable self-healable semiconducting film for multiplexed skin-like sensor array
Journal
Science Advances (Sci. Adv.)
Date
2019.11.08
Abstract
Skin-like sensory devices should be sensitive to external stimuli, but also be stretchable and self-healable to meet the demands needed for the future electronic skin applications. Despite recent significant advances in skin-inspired electronic materials, it remains challenging to confer these desired functionalities to an active semiconductor in devices. Here, we report a strain-sensitive, stretchable, and autonomously self-healable semiconducting film, achieved through blending of a polymer semiconductor and an elastomer, which are dynamically cross-linked by metal coordination complex. We observed that the insulating elastomer is able to control the threshold percolation of the polymer semiconductor, rendering the blended film strain-sensitive in the blended film. The nanoparticle-shaped phase separation of the semiconductor in the elastomer matrix enables it to be further electrically sensitive to strain (gauge factor: 5.75×105 at 100％ strain). Dynamic intermolecular interactions of the two metal-coordinated materials allow the resulting blended film to be highly stretchable (fracture strain: >1300％), as well as be autonomously self-healable at room temperature. Based on the strain-sensitive property of our semiconducting film, we proceed to demonstrate a fully integrated 5×5 stretchable multiplexed sensory transistor array, capable of detecting strain distribution through surface deformation.