Ultra-Stretchable Conductive Iono-Elastomer And Motion Strain Sensor System Developed Therefrom

Advanced flexible, stretchable, and sensitive strain sensors are essential components of wearable electronic devices and technologies. Here, we illustrate our patented technology for creating ultra-stretchable and conductive materials applicable for stretchable electronic technologies. A simplified, two-step manufacturing process exploits the hierarchical self-assembly of a functionalized, commercially available triblock copolymer in a protic ionic liquid, followed by photo-induced chemical crosslinking to create an iono-elastomer with remarkable mechanical and electrical properties. The synthesis is very robust, with nearly 100% conversion and 90% yield. The resulted materials exhibit an unprecedented combination of high stretchability (elongation at break is 3000% and tensile strength is 200 MPa), tunable ionic conductivity, and mechano-electrical response. The stretchability is about one order of magnitude higher than a typical crosslinked rubber. Importantly, the material's conductivity increases with extension, a unique and non-trivial material response whose origin derives from the nanoscale microstructural rearrangements under stretching deformation. Building upon this novel iono-elastomer, we created the "Motion Strain Patch" (MSP), which is the first high-strain amplitude stretchable resistive strain sensor patch. As the MSP can be easily mounted on clothing or adhesively attached to the body to measure the local displacement of specific body parts under motion, potential applications include biomechanical motion capturing, sports performance tracking, and rehabilitation monitoring. This article will also outline the potential benefits and impacts provided by our invention to the economy, the environment, and society. The MSP is not a replacement to existing wearable products on the market but a superior complement to existing performance optimizing wearable technology.