A Durable Metalgel Maintaining 3×10 <sup>6</sup> S∙M <sup>‒1</sup> Conductivity under 1 000 000 Stretching Cycles

X Xusong Li (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) J Jiacheng Wang (Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Island Green Energy and New Materials, Institute of Electrochemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering) W Wen Wang H Hanting Zhang (Duke Univeristy, Durham, North Carolina, United States) Y Yiding Jiao (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) S Songlin Tao Y Yuanzhen Wang (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) T Tingting Ye (Key Laboratory of Materials Physics) J Jie Song (Hangzhou Institute of Medicine) C Chenyu Bai (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) H Haotian Yin (National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre Collaborative Innovation Centre of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China) J Jiang Lu Y Yiran Li F Fangyan Li E Er He (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) Q Qianming Li K Kuangyi Zou (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) H Haidong Wang X Xinyin Cao (National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China) X Xiaoliang Wang (Department of Chemistry) Y Ye Zhang

Abstract

Abstract Conductive elastomers are in high demand for emerging fields such as wearable electronics and soft robotics. However, it remains unavailable to realize the desired metal‐level conductivity after extensive stretching cycles, which is a necessity for the above promising application. Here, a new material is presented that employs an elastic, homogeneous, and dense waterborne polyurethane network to immobilize the liquid metal continuum via electrostatic interactions. This new design enables the liquid metal continuum to deform synchronously and reversibly with the polymer network, preserving its conductive structure and significantly enhancing durability. The resulting durable metalgel exhibits conductivity of 3 × 10 6 S∙m −1 , which remains stable after 1 000 000 stretching cycles. This work overcomes the performance limitations of current conductive elastomers and unlocks new opportunities for cutting‐edge applications in wearable technology and robotics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 20
Published May 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

X

Xusong Li

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

J

Jiacheng Wang

Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Island Green Energy and New Materials, Institute of Electrochemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering

W

Wen Wang

H

Hanting Zhang

Duke Univeristy, Durham, North Carolina, United States

Y

Yiding Jiao

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

S

Songlin Tao

Y

Yuanzhen Wang

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

T

Tingting Ye

Key Laboratory of Materials Physics

J

Jie Song

Hangzhou Institute of Medicine

C

Chenyu Bai

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

H

Haotian Yin

National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre Collaborative Innovation Centre of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China

J

Jiang Lu

Y

Yiran Li

F

Fangyan Li

E

Er He

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

Q

Qianming Li

K

Kuangyi Zou

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

H

Haidong Wang

X

Xinyin Cao

National Laboratory of Solid‐State Microstructures Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China

X

Xiaoliang Wang

Department of Chemistry

Y

Ye Zhang