Porous liquid metal–elastomer composites with high leakage resistance and antimicrobial property for skin-interfaced bioelectronics
Abstract
Liquid metal–elastomer composite is a promising soft conductor for skin-interfaced bioelectronics, soft robots, and others due to its large stretchability, ultrasoftness, high electrical conductivity, and mechanical-electrical decoupling. However, it often suffers from deformation-induced leakage, which can smear skin, deteriorate device performance, and cause circuit shorting. Besides, antimicrobial property is desirable in soft conductors to minimize microbial infections. Here, we report phase separation–based synthesis of porous liquid metal–elastomer composites with high leakage resistance and antimicrobial property, together with large stretchability, tissue-like compliance, high and stable electrical conductivity over deformation, high breathability, and magnetic resonance imaging compatibility. The porous structures can minimize leakage through damping effects and lower percolation thresholds to reduce liquid metal usage. In addition, epsilon polylysine is loaded into elastic matrices during phase separation to provide antimicrobial property. The enabled skin-interfaced bioelectronics can monitor cardiac electrical and mechanical activities and offer electrical stimulations in a mechanically imperceptible and electrically stable manner even during motions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 06, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1126/sciadv.adf0575
Entities
People
- Alexander J Brown
- Brian Arends
- Chansong Kim
- Daniel N. Ackerman
- Ganggang Zhao
- Guoliang Huang
- Henry Huang
- Jingwei Xie
- Joshua L. Santarpia
- Qian Chen
- Sana Mahmoud
- St. Patrick Reid
- Xianchen Xu
- Yadong Xu
- Yajuan Su
- Yun Ling
- Zehua Chen
- Zheng Yan
Organizations
- North Carolina State University
- Purdue University
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
- University of Missouri
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln