Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications

Abstract Liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers with excellent mechanical and electrical conductivity are widely used in flexible sensors, wearable devices, soft touch screens, and supercapacitors. However, the inherent contradiction between mechanical and electrical properties often limits the devel...

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Main Authors: Zequan Li, Jingjing Tang, Xuwei Wang, Fuqi Wang, Fangyan Ou, Wenyu Pan, Changsheng Wang, Ting Xie, Chuang Ning, Xiwei Xu, Jiamin Liu, Qihua Liang, Wei Gao, Shuangliang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202503510
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author Zequan Li
Jingjing Tang
Xuwei Wang
Fuqi Wang
Fangyan Ou
Wenyu Pan
Changsheng Wang
Ting Xie
Chuang Ning
Xiwei Xu
Jiamin Liu
Qihua Liang
Wei Gao
Shuangliang Zhao
author_facet Zequan Li
Jingjing Tang
Xuwei Wang
Fuqi Wang
Fangyan Ou
Wenyu Pan
Changsheng Wang
Ting Xie
Chuang Ning
Xiwei Xu
Jiamin Liu
Qihua Liang
Wei Gao
Shuangliang Zhao
author_sort Zequan Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers with excellent mechanical and electrical conductivity are widely used in flexible sensors, wearable devices, soft touch screens, and supercapacitors. However, the inherent contradiction between mechanical and electrical properties often limits the development of liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers. Therefore, the preparation of liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers with both high mechanical properties and high ionic conductivity remains a major challenge. In this study, a polyurethane elastomer with multiple crosslinking and a microphase‐separated structures were designed, inspired by the “brick wall” structure of the pearl layer. A polyurethane‐based liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer with excellent mechanical strength and outstanding ion‐conducting properties was prepared by introducing lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfoximide (LiTFSI) into the polyurethane elastomer. FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer had excellent mechanical strength (5.46 MPa), exceptional elongation at break (1213%), excellent ionic conductivity (3.29 × 10−4 S cm−1), and excellent fracture energy (6.25 kJ m−2). Flexible sensors prepared based on FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer have realized applications in wearable devices, multi‐channel strain sensors, and remote‐controlled robots. In addition, we successfully recovered LiTFSI from FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer. The development of these liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers will be expected to show a wide range of applications in flexible sensors, ionic skin, soft robotics, and human‐machine interactions.
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spelling doaj-art-6af1c3350bc2440f9ea23c48b65bd9762025-08-20T03:12:02ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-07-011227n/an/a10.1002/advs.202503510Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing ApplicationsZequan Li0Jingjing Tang1Xuwei Wang2Fuqi Wang3Fangyan Ou4Wenyu Pan5Changsheng Wang6Ting Xie7Chuang Ning8Xiwei Xu9Jiamin Liu10Qihua Liang11Wei Gao12Shuangliang Zhao13School of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaSchool of Resources Environment and Materials Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life‐cycle Safety for Composite Structures Guangxi University Nanning 530004 ChinaAbstract Liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers with excellent mechanical and electrical conductivity are widely used in flexible sensors, wearable devices, soft touch screens, and supercapacitors. However, the inherent contradiction between mechanical and electrical properties often limits the development of liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers. Therefore, the preparation of liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers with both high mechanical properties and high ionic conductivity remains a major challenge. In this study, a polyurethane elastomer with multiple crosslinking and a microphase‐separated structures were designed, inspired by the “brick wall” structure of the pearl layer. A polyurethane‐based liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer with excellent mechanical strength and outstanding ion‐conducting properties was prepared by introducing lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfoximide (LiTFSI) into the polyurethane elastomer. FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer had excellent mechanical strength (5.46 MPa), exceptional elongation at break (1213%), excellent ionic conductivity (3.29 × 10−4 S cm−1), and excellent fracture energy (6.25 kJ m−2). Flexible sensors prepared based on FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer have realized applications in wearable devices, multi‐channel strain sensors, and remote‐controlled robots. In addition, we successfully recovered LiTFSI from FLICE‐110% liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomer. The development of these liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers will be expected to show a wide range of applications in flexible sensors, ionic skin, soft robotics, and human‐machine interactions.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202503510human‐machine interactionsion‐conductivityliquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomersmechanical strengthrecovery of LiTFSI
spellingShingle Zequan Li
Jingjing Tang
Xuwei Wang
Fuqi Wang
Fangyan Ou
Wenyu Pan
Changsheng Wang
Ting Xie
Chuang Ning
Xiwei Xu
Jiamin Liu
Qihua Liang
Wei Gao
Shuangliang Zhao
Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
Advanced Science
human‐machine interactions
ion‐conductivity
liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers
mechanical strength
recovery of LiTFSI
title Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
title_full Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
title_fullStr Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
title_full_unstemmed Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
title_short Bioinspired Liquid‐Free Ion‐Conductive Elastomers with Ultrahigh Mechanical Strength and Excellent Ionic Conductivity for Multifunctional Flexible Sensing Applications
title_sort bioinspired liquid free ion conductive elastomers with ultrahigh mechanical strength and excellent ionic conductivity for multifunctional flexible sensing applications
topic human‐machine interactions
ion‐conductivity
liquid‐free ion‐conductive elastomers
mechanical strength
recovery of LiTFSI
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202503510
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