Transparent Conductive Elastomer With Autonomous Self-Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-healing materials struggle to achieve simultaneous transparency, electrical conductivity, and mechanical stability, particularly in conditions requiring large deformations, and often require external stimuli for repair.
Innovation Solution
A novel transparent, stretchable, and electrically conducting elastomer composed of a blend of PEDOT:PSS and polyborosiloxane-based polymers, with a unique phase-separated structure, enabling autonomous self-healing and anisotropic conductivity up to 1 S cm−1 without external triggers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional non-healable materials use percolation nanowire networks to achieve transparency and electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but mechanical durability and deformability deteriorate due to permanent broken covalent bonds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conductive PEDOT:PSS nanofibrils with self-healing polymer matrices containing dynamic covalent bonds (boronic ester bonds). This composite structure allows the material to maintain electrical conductivity through the conductive network while the self-healing polymer matrix repairs mechanical damage, resolving the contradiction between electrical conductivity and mechanical durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the polymer matrix from conventional permanent covalent bonds to dynamic covalent bonds (boronic ester bonds) that can reversibly break and reform. This parameter change enables the material to heal mechanical damage while maintaining the conductive network, allowing repeated recovery of both mechanical and electrical properties
2Ease of repair
If self-healing conductors use external stimuli or energy input triggers to initiate self-repair, then self-healing functionality is achieved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an autonomously self-healing system where the material repairs itself without external intervention. The dynamic covalent bonds in the polymer matrix spontaneously break and reform to heal mechanical damage, and the conductive network automatically restores electrical conductivity without requiring external stimuli, temperature control, or energy input, thus eliminating device complexity
3Reliability
If self-healing materials are designed to achieve transparency and electrical conductivity, then electrical functionality is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates due to trade-offs in material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite where conductive PEDOT:PSS nanofibrils are embedded in a self-healing polymer matrix. The matrix provides mechanical stability and self-healing capability, while the nanofibril network provides electrical conductivity and transparency, allowing all three properties to coexist without trade-offs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized heterogeneity with conducting PEDOT:PSS nanofibrils distributed within the polymer matrix. The matrix regions provide mechanical stability and self-healing, while the nanofibril regions provide electrical conductivity, allowing different parts of the material to have specialized functions that resolve the contradiction
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The material can autonomously restore 100% of its pristine electrical conductivity and mechanical properties upon damage, maintaining stability under various conditions, including large deformations and challenging environments, and serves as a versatile conductor for soft electronics and sensors.
Implementation Method 1
The electrically conducting phase comprises PEDOT:PSS
Implementation Method 2
The material has an anisotropic electrical conductivity, when for example in the form of a film, up to more than 1 S cm−1
Implementation Method 3
Due to supramolecular interactions, the material also has excellent adhesion capacity in dry and wet conditions
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a self-healing, electrically conducting elastomer, comprising an electrically conducting phase comprising PEDOT:PSS nanofibrils, and an electrically insulating phase comprising a polyborosiloxane-based polymer. The present application also related to a method for manufacturing the self-healing, electrically conducting elastomer.