A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices

doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z

. 2023 Feb;614(7948):456-462.

doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices

Ying Jiang¹, Shaobo Ji¹, Jing Sun², Jianping Huang², Yuanheng Li², Guijin Zou³, Teddy Salim¹, Changxian Wang¹, Wenlong Li⁴, Haoran Jin¹, Jie Xu⁵, Sihong Wang⁵, Ting Lei⁵, Xuzhou Yan⁵, Wendy Yen Xian Peh⁶, Shih-Cheng Yen⁶, Zhihua Liu⁴, Mei Yu², Hang Zhao², Zechao Lu², Guanglin Li², Huajian Gao^{3

7}, Zhiyuan Liu⁸, Zhenan Bao⁹, Xiaodong Chen^{10

11

12}

Affiliations

¹ Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
² CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China.
³ Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁶ The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
⁷ School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
⁸ CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China. zy.liu1@siat.ac.cn.
⁹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. zbao@stanford.edu.
¹⁰ Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.
¹¹ Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.
¹² Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.

PMID: 36792740
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z

A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices

Ying Jiang et al. Nature. 2023 Feb.

. 2023 Feb;614(7948):456-462.

doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
² CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China.
³ Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁶ The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
⁷ School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
⁸ CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China. zy.liu1@siat.ac.cn.
⁹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. zbao@stanford.edu.
¹⁰ Innovative Center for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.
¹¹ Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.
¹² Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. chenxd@ntu.edu.sg.

PMID: 36792740
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05579-z

Abstract

Stretchable hybrid devices have enabled high-fidelity implantable^1-3 and on-skin^4-6 monitoring of physiological signals. These devices typically contain soft modules that match the mechanical requirements in humans^7,8 and soft robots^9,10, rigid modules containing Si-based microelectronics^11,12 and protective encapsulation modules^13,14. To make such a system mechanically compliant, the interconnects between the modules need to tolerate stress concentration that may limit their stretching and ultimately cause debonding failure^15-17. Here, we report a universal interface that can reliably connect soft, rigid and encapsulation modules together to form robust and highly stretchable devices in a plug-and-play manner. The interface, consisting of interpenetrating polymer and metal nanostructures, connects modules by simply pressing without using pastes. Its formation is depicted by a biphasic network growth model. Soft-soft modules joined by this interface achieved 600% and 180% mechanical and electrical stretchability, respectively. Soft and rigid modules can also be electrically connected using the above interface. Encapsulation on soft modules with this interface is strongly adhesive with an interfacial toughness of 0.24 N mm^-1. As a proof of concept, we use this interface to assemble stretchable devices for in vivo neuromodulation and on-skin electromyography, with high signal quality and mechanical resistance. We expect such a plug-and-play interface to simplify and accelerate the development of on-skin and implantable stretchable devices.

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References

1. Squair, J. W. et al. Neuroprosthetic baroreflex controls haemodynamics after spinal cord injury. Nature 590, 308–314 (2021). - DOI - PubMed
1. Park, S. I. et al. Soft, stretchable, fully implantable miniaturized optoelectronic systems for wireless optogenetics. Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 1280–1286 (2015). - DOI - PubMed - PMC
1. Choi, S. et al. Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics. Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 1048–1056 (2018). - DOI - PubMed
1. Matsuhisa, N. et al. Printable elastic conductors by in situ formation of silver nanoparticles from silver flakes. Nat. Mater. 16, 834–840 (2017). - DOI - PubMed
1. Hua, Q. et al. Skin-inspired highly stretchable and conformable matrix networks for multifunctional sensing. Nat. Commun. 9, 244 (2018). - DOI - PubMed - PMC

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[1] Squair, J. W. et al. Neuroprosthetic baroreflex controls haemodynamics after spinal cord injury. Nature 590, 308–314 (2021). - DOI - PubMed

[2] Squair, J. W. et al. Neuroprosthetic baroreflex controls haemodynamics after spinal cord injury. Nature 590, 308–314 (2021). - DOI - PubMed

[3] Park, S. I. et al. Soft, stretchable, fully implantable miniaturized optoelectronic systems for wireless optogenetics. Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 1280–1286 (2015). - DOI - PubMed - PMC

[4] Park, S. I. et al. Soft, stretchable, fully implantable miniaturized optoelectronic systems for wireless optogenetics. Nat. Biotechnol. 33, 1280–1286 (2015). - DOI - PubMed - PMC

[5] Choi, S. et al. Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics. Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 1048–1056 (2018). - DOI - PubMed

[6] Choi, S. et al. Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics. Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 1048–1056 (2018). - DOI - PubMed

[7] Matsuhisa, N. et al. Printable elastic conductors by in situ formation of silver nanoparticles from silver flakes. Nat. Mater. 16, 834–840 (2017). - DOI - PubMed

[8] Matsuhisa, N. et al. Printable elastic conductors by in situ formation of silver nanoparticles from silver flakes. Nat. Mater. 16, 834–840 (2017). - DOI - PubMed

[9] Hua, Q. et al. Skin-inspired highly stretchable and conformable matrix networks for multifunctional sensing. Nat. Commun. 9, 244 (2018). - DOI - PubMed - PMC

[10] Hua, Q. et al. Skin-inspired highly stretchable and conformable matrix networks for multifunctional sensing. Nat. Commun. 9, 244 (2018). - DOI - PubMed - PMC

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A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices

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A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices

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