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Binary Co-Gelator Strategy: Toward Highly Deformable Ionic


Conductors for Wearable Ionoskins
Jin Han Kwon, Yong Min Kim, and Hong Chul Moon*
Cite This: ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 32533−32540 Read Online

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ABSTRACT: Stretchable ionic conductors have been actively


developed due to the increasing demand for wearable electro-
Downloaded via NATL CHENG KUNG UNIV on October 27, 2023 at 21:33:33 (UTC).

chemical platforms. Herein, we propose a convenient and effective


strategy for tailoring the mechanical deformability of ionic
conductors. The mixing of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA,
polymer gelator) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-
(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMI][TFSI], ionic liquid) pro-
duces mechanically stiff ionic conductors. To reduce the chain
entanglement of polymer gelators and induce effective dissipation
of applied stresses, flexible poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) with a low
glass-transition temperature is additionally doped into the ionic
conductor. An extremely stretchable (∼1500%) homogeneous ternary ionic conductor is obtained without a notable change in
electrochemical characteristics, unless the content of PBA exceeds the macrophase separation limit of 3 wt %. In addition, the
mechanical elasticity (1.8 × 105 Pa) and durability (e.g., recovery ratio of ∼86.3% after 1000 stretching/releasing cycles) of the
conductor further support its suitability as a strain sensory platform. In contrast to conventional ionoskins that have to fit the area of
target body parts, even a small piece of the ternary ionic conductor successfully monitors human motion over large areas by taking
advantage of its superior deformability.
KEYWORDS: deformable ionic conductors, binary co-gelators, soft electronics, ionoskins, functional electrochemical systems

■ INTRODUCTION
Stretchable electronics, including electronic skins (E-skins), 1−3
One challenge to improving practical feasibility for
deformable systems is the on-demand tailoring mechanical
properties of ionic conductors. Thus, simultaneous chemical
soft robotics,4,5 artificial muscles,6,7 and human motion
cross-linking and physical cross-linking of polymer gelators
monitoring systems,8−10 have attracted enormous attention
were used to obtain high-toughness ion gels.28−30 It is noted
as next-generation wearable device platforms. Conventional that no decrease in ionic conductivity was detected because the
stretchable systems are composed of elastomers (e.g., Ecoflex, domains serving as mechanical supports for the gel were cross-
poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) and electronically conduct- linked selectively. The careful molecular design of polymer
ing fillers (e.g., carbon materials,11,12 metal nanowires,13,14 and gelators is another straightforward way to adjust the elasticity
conducting polymers15−17). The fillers provide an electrical of the gels.31−33 For example, when six-arm star-shaped block
path through the connection, and the system utilizes its strain- copolymers of (poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene)6
dependent electrical properties. However, the conducting ((MS)6) were employed as gelators, mechanical elasticity
fillers are usually rigid, so their percolation network is broken was significantly improved compared to the system based on
and the electrical characteristics are saturated even at a linear polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene
relatively low strain limit.18,19 Moreover, there is no favorable (SMS) with similar molecular characteristics.33 This result is
interaction between fillers and elastomers without specific attributed to more physical cross-linking points per gelator
surface modification, which hinders the uniform dispersion of molecule (namely, 6 for (MS)6 star copolymers versus 2 for
the fillers over the entire elastomer matrix.20,21 As an linear SMS triblock copolymers). On the other hand, there
alternative, ionic conductors, where ions serve as charge
carriers, were proposed for deformable platforms.22−24 For Received: April 26, 2022
example, highly conductive ionic conductors, referred to as ion Accepted: June 7, 2022
gels, can be readily prepared by blending room-temperature Published: June 16, 2022
ionic liquids (RTILs) and polymer gelators. Their advantages
include high optical transparency with homogeneity, novola-
tility without encapsulation, and solution processibility.25−27

© 2022 American Chemical Society https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334


32533 ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 32533−32540
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces www.acsami.org Research Article

were efforts to adjust the deformability of ionic conductors by (phenylcarbonothioylthio)-2-phenylacetate (6.7 mg, 0.212 mmol),
exploiting the synergistic effect of copolymerization of ionic AIBN (0.7 mg, 0.0426 mmol), and dimethylformamide (30 mL) were
liquid (IL)-soluble polymers with a high glass-transition introduced into a dried two-neck flask. The reaction mixture was
temperature (Tg) and IL-insoluble low-Tg polymers.34 For degassed by purging with argon (Ar) gas at room temperature for 1 h,
followed by polymerization at 80°C for 16 h. Then, the mixture was
example, ionic conductors containing poly(methyl methacry- quenched in liquid nitrogen and poured into an excess of methanol
late-ran-butyl acrylate) (PMMA-r-PBA) showed remarkable for precipitation. The product was vacuum-dried at 60 °C overnight.
stretchability (∼850%) as applied stresses were effectively PBA homopolymer was synthesized similarly (Figure S1 in the
released through easy deformation of IL-insoluble PBA Supporting Information).
moieties. Characterizations. The number-average molecular weight (Mn)
Herein, we propose an extremely straightforward and and polydispersity index (Đ) of the homopolymers were measured by
effective route to obtain highly deformable ionic conductors size exclusion chromatography (SEC) (LC-20AT, Shimadzu) using
for strain sensory applications, in which the main strategy is high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-grade tetrahydro-
furan (THF) at 30 °C, equipped with two PLgel 5 μm mixed-C 300 ×
using binary polymer blends as the co-gelators. To validate this
7.5 mm2 columns (Agilent Technologies) and a refractive index
concept, ionic conductors based on high-Tg glassy poly(methyl detector (RID-20A, Shimadzu). The calibration was carried out with a
methacrylate) (PMMA) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium polystyrene standard mixture. The molecular characteristics of
bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMI][TFSI], ionic liquid) employed homopolymers are as follows: PMMA (Mn ∼ 250 kg/
were set as a model system. As the low-Tg rubbery PBA was mol, Đ ∼ 1.30) and PBA (Mn ∼ 75 kg/mol, Đ ∼ 1.23) (Figure S2 in
doped into the relatively hard PMMA-based conductors, their the Supporting Information). Rheological properties of ionic
rheological relaxation time decreased, implying a less entangled conductors were recorded on a rheometer (MCR 92, Anton Paar)
status of polymer gelators. Therefore, the applied stresses were equipped with a parallel plate of diameter 25 mm. For time−
expected to dissipate effectively through easier shape temperature superposition (tTS), frequency sweeps from 0.1 and 100
rad/s were conducted at 0−160 °C with strain fixed at 1%. Master
deformation. Indeed, the maximum stretchability of the
curves were obtained using shift factors. The reference temperature
conductor was enhanced at a higher portion of PBA. However, was 20 °C. Tensile stress−strain curves were obtained using a force
when the poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) content exceeded 3 wt %, gauge (M5-10, Mark-10) equipped with a motorized z-axis stage
the deformability of the conductor was reduced due to (ESM303, Mark-10). The ionic conductivity of the ternary ionic
macrophase separation between PMMA and PBA domains. conductors (thickness: 2 mm, diameter: 4 mm) was determined using
The optimized ternary ionic conductors exhibited outstanding an electrochemical impedance spectrometer (IM6, ZAHNER). The
stretchability (∼1500%), mechanical elasticity (elastic modulus employed AC voltage and frequency range were 10 mV and 10−1−106
of ∼1.8 × 105 Pa), and durability (e.g., the recovery ratio of Hz, respectively. Phase separation of the ionic conductors was
∼86.3% after 1000 stretching/releasing cycles), indicating high observed using an optical microscope (BX43, Olympus).
Fabrication and Characterization of Strain Sensors/Ion-
feasibility for strain sensory systems. A linear response of oskins Based on Ternary Ionic Conductors. To fabricate ternary
relative resistance over the entire strain range remained ionic conductors, PMMA, PBA, and [BMI][TFSI] in a 28.8:1.2:70
∼1500% with a gauge factor (GF) of ∼1.32, which was highly weight ratio were completely dissolved in THF. The homogeneous
stable without encapsulation during repeated stretching/ conductor solution was cast on the rectangular-shaped mold
releasing cyclic operations. A small piece of the ternary ionic (thickness: 3 mm, width: 10 mm, and length: 30 mm), followed by
conductor was sufficient to monitor human movements as an drying under 60 °C in a vacuum. The change in ΔR/R0 of ionic
ionoskin, irrespective of the target body part area. For example, conductors was recorded on a source meter (2400, Keithley) as a
the movements of small-area joints, such as a finger and wrist, function of applied strains under a DC bias of 1 V. The human
motion monitoring was performed using ionoskins attached to the
were successfully tracked in real time through the change in body under the same experimental conditions.
relative resistance of the attached ionic conductor. To record
large-area motions (e.g., elbow), a piece of the conductor was
stretched and directly transferred onto the target area. Its
superior stretchability (∼1500%) allowed additional shape
■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To validate the effectiveness of the co-gelator strategy for
deformation and tracking of corresponding variations in tuning the stretchability of ionic conductors, we selected high-
physical characteristics. This function has not been demon- Tg (∼122.1 °C) PMMA and low-Tg (∼−49.2 °C) PBA for the
strated with the previous conventional ionoskins that have to binary blend gelator (Figure S3 in the Supporting Informa-
fit the size of the target body part. tion). When glassy PMMA alone served as a gelator, the
resulting conductor exhibited solid-like rheological behaviors.
■ EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
Materials. All chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich
Namely, storage modulus (G′) values remained higher than
those of loss modulus (G″) irrespective of applied frequencies
unless noted otherwise. [Li][TFSI] was obtained from 3M company. (Figure S4 in the Supporting Information), indicating effective
Inhibitors contained in monomers (MMA and BA) were removed by gelation with PMMA and a mechanically stable network
passing through a basic alumina column before polymerization. An structure. On the other hand, a highly viscid liquid was
acetone solution of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) (12 wt % in 100 obtained with rubbery PBA due to its low Tg (Figure S5 in the
mL) was dried using a rotary evaporator, followed by recrystallization Supporting Information). The appearance of both conductors
in a methanol solution for purification. [BMI][TFSI] was synthesized was also quite different, which can be observed even by the
via an anion exchange reaction between 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium naked eye (Figure S6 in the Supporting Information).
bromide ([BMI][Br]) and excess lithium bis- Accordingly, we conclude that none of the conductors is
(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Li][TFSI]) in deionized water.
suitable for wearable strain sensors because of the relatively
Preparation of Homopolymers for Ternary Blended
Systems. Homopolymers of PMMA and PBA were prepared via limited stretchability and poor film-forming ability of the ionic
one-pot reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) conductors based on PMMA and PBA, respectively.
polymerization using ethyl 2-(phenylcarbonothioylthio)-2-phenyl- Therefore, we additionally introduced highly flexible PBA
acetate as a RAFT agent. MMA (29.19 g, 291.5 mmol), ethyl 2- into the ionic conductor consisting of PMMA and [BMI]-
32534 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 32533−32540
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces www.acsami.org Research Article

Figure 1. (a) Optical microscopy images of the ternary ionic conductors at various PBA weight ratios relative to PMMA content. All ionic
conductors are composed of 70 wt % [BMI][TFSI] and 30 wt % polymer blend gelators. Schematic illustrations of three representative regimes:
homogeneous phase with (b) PMMA homopolymer and (c) PMMA/PBA blend, and (d) macrophase-separated heterogeneous phase.

[TFSI] to adjust the chain flexibility of the polymer gelators conductors. First, isothermal frequency sweeps at various
and dissipate the applied stress effectively. Figure 1a displays temperatures (0−160 °C) were conducted for three
optical microscopy images of the PMMA/PBA ionic representative ionic conductors containing 0, 3, and 4 wt %
conductors at different PBA contents. The PMMA-only ionic PBA in ternary blends (Figure S7 in the Supporting
conductor (0 wt % PBA) shows featureless morphology Information). Then, we constructed the master curve
corresponding to a homogeneous phase film. It is anticipated according to the time−temperature superposition (tTS)
that PMMA chains are uniformly dispersed throughout the principle based on a reference temperature of 20 °C (Figure
ionic conductor and swollen with [BMI][TFSI] (Figure 1b). 2a). The crossover frequency (aTω) of bTG′ and bTG″ implies
There is no notable morphology change in the homogeneous the polymer chain relaxation time (τ) defined as τ = 1/aTω.
mixtures until the PBA content reaches 3 wt % (Figure 1a,c). The τ of the PMMA homopolymer-based ionic conductor was
Thus, adding PBA is expected to improve the chain flexibility estimated to be ∼1292 s, indicating the densely entangled
of the overall polymer blend gelators. When the PBA content nature of the polymer chains. The addition of flexible PBA to
exceeds 3 wt %, the incompatibility between PBA and PMMA the PMMA-based ionic conductors effectively attenuated the
results in macrophase separation (Figure 1a,d). This means overall polymer chain interaction unless it induced macrophase
that PBA domains become separated from the PBA + PMMA separation. For example, for the 3 wt % PBA-containing
domains and thus the stiffness of the PMMA domains is ternary ionic conductor, τ was ∼323 s (Figure 2a). On the
restored. other hand, with the PBA content higher than 3 wt %, the
To clarify the aforementioned hypothesis, we measured the relaxation behavior of the ionic conductor was delayed again
rheological and mechanical characteristics of the ternary ionic (e.g., τ ∼1196 s for the ionic conductor with 4 wt % PBA)
32535 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334
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ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces www.acsami.org Research Article

Figure 2. (a) Frequency-dependent tTS master curves of storage (G′) and loss moduli (G″) for ternary ionic conductors including 0, 3, and 4 wt %
PBA. Horizontal (aT) and vertical (bT) shift factors were applied with a reference temperature of 20 °C. (b) Correlation between polymer chain
relaxation time (τ) and PBA content in the ternary ionic conductors. (c) Stress−strain curves of the ternary ionic conductors at various PBA
contents.

Figure 3. (a) Stress−strain curves at different [BMI][TFSI] contents, in which the PMMA/PBA blend gelator contains 3 wt % PBA. (b) Plots of
relative resistance versus applied strain for the ternary ionic conductor including 70 wt % [BMI][TFSI]. The slope of the linear fit corresponds to a
gauge factor (GF) of ∼1.32. Variations in (c) stress−strain curves and (d) recovery ratio and residual strain as a function of stretching/releasing
cycles.

(Figure 2b). This is because PBA and PMMA domains were was observed with 3 wt % PBA corresponding to the
macroscopically separated so that flexible PBA could not macrophase separation boundary. As long as the ionic
effectively reduce the stiffness of PMMA in the ionic conductor conductor maintained a homogeneous phase, the improved
(see also Figure 1a). chain flexibility arising from added PBA contributed to the
Similar to the change in relaxation motion, the stretchability higher stretchability of the ionic conductor. For example, the
of the ternary ionic conductors can be improved by adding ternary conductor with 3 wt % PBA was elongated up to
PBA. Figure 2c shows stress−strain curves for five ionic ∼1500%, whereas that of the PMMA homopolymer-based
conductors with different PBA contents. The opposite effect ionic conductor was only ∼625%. Macrophase separation
32536 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 32533−32540
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces www.acsami.org Research Article

between PBA and PMMA domains reduced the effectiveness


of PBA. The overall stretchability of the 4 wt % PBA-
containing ternary ionic conductor was mainly determined by
the majority of stiff PMMA and decreased to ∼827% despite
the higher PBA content (Figure 2c). In general, the applied
stress is concentrated at the interface when the elastic
mismatch between two phases is large.35,36 In this context,
the reduced stretchability after macrophase separation can be
rationalized with a large mechanical difference between PMMA
and PBA domains. In contrast, the ionic conductivity of the
ionic conductor did not depend significantly on the PBA
content (Figure S8 in the Supporting Information). For
example, it was 0.17 mS/cm with the PMMA homopolymer-
based conductor (namely, 0 wt % PBA-containing ionic
conductor). When the 4 wt % low-Tg PBA was added, the
conductivity minutely increased to 0.19 mS/cm. The weak
dependence of ionic conductivity on PBA composition is
because both PBA and PMMA can form ion-conductive
channels with [BMI][TFSI].
Another crucial parameter to determine the characteristics of
ionic conductors is the blending ratio of the polymer gelator Figure 4. Relative resistance changes depending on various (a)
(PBA/PMMA blend) and the plasticizer ([BMI][TFSI]). magnitudes and (b) frequencies of applied strains. (c) Long-term
stability sensory tests during consecutive 5000 stretching/releasing
Figure 3a displays stress−strain curves of the ternary ionic
cycles at ε ∼ 100%.
conductors at different compositions. It is noted that the ionic
conductor with 80 wt % [BMI][TFSI] is mechanically unstable
and cannot maintain its original shape under ambient (Figure resolution. For example, although the rate of applied strain
S9 in the Supporting Information) and dry conditions (Figure varied from 30 to 120 mm/min, the output signals were
S10 in the Supporting Information), so we employed 50, 60, uniform (Figure 4b). Another notable advantage of the ternary
and 70 wt % [BMI][TFSI] for three representative candidates. ionic conductor is nonvolatility under ambient conditions.
Consequently, despite the trade-off correlation between the Figure 4c displays transient responsiveness of the ternary ionic
elastic modulus and stretchability, we selected the most conductor during continuous 5000 stretching/releasing cyclic
deformable ionic conductor containing 70 wt % [BMI][TFSI] operation. When we compared the initial change in ΔR/R0
(i.e., stretchability of ∼1500%) as the optimal system for strain with that after 43,000 s (see insets in Figure 4c), there was no
sensors because its elasticity of ∼1.8 × 105 Pa was still high notable difference in the responsiveness and amplitude. This
enough to handle and apply for free-standing strain sensors. To result implies that the ternary ionic conductor can serve as a
evaluate the sensory performance of the optimized ternary highly stable sensory component with no encapsulation.
ionic conductor, we measured the gauge factor (GF) defined as To exploit the mechanical and sensory benefits of the
GF = (ΔR/R0)/ε, where ΔR/R0 and ε represent the relative ternary ionic conductors, we applied them as skin-type sensors,
resistance and applied strain, respectively. The remarkable ionoskins.37−43 To monitor human motions accurately,
feature of this system includes the linear response of ΔR/R0 to previous conventional ionoskins had to be cut into desired
ε with GF of ∼1.32 over the entire experimental strain range sizes depending on the target body parts. Similarly, when the
(∼1500%) (Figure 3b). Moreover, the excellent mechanical detection area was relatively small, the dimension of 10 mm ×
reversibility of the ionic conductor further supports its high 30 mm (width × length) was sufficient to cover it. For
feasibility as a strain sensory platform. Figure 3c displays the example, we successfully tracked the bending motions of a
mechanical response of the ionic conductors to cyclic finger by measuring the ΔR/R0 change of an attached ionic
stretching/releasing stability assessments. The characteristics conductor piece (Figure 5a). The larger strain was induced at a
of the initial stress−strain curve were well preserved higher bending angle, leading to larger variations in ΔR/R0.
throughout the test. For example, the recovery ratio defined With increasing bending frequency, the response interval
by the ratio of hysteresis area at each cycle to the first cycle was proportionally decreased. The bending/releasing movement of
determined to be ∼86.3% after 1000 cycles. Under the same the wrist was also successfully monitored with the same size
conditions, the residual strain corresponding to the extension ternary ionic conductor (Figure 5b). In contrast to conven-
length after removal of stress with respect to the original length tional ionoskins, small pieces of the ternary ionic conductors
was sufficiently low (∼11.5%) (Figure 3d). were even successfully applicable for large-area sensing owing
The performance of the ternary ionic conductor-based strain to their excellent stretchability (Figure 3a) and uniform gauge
sensor was further examined. Figure 4a indicates an accurate coefficients over the entire strain range (Figure 3b). First, we
response of ΔR/R0 upon application of various strains. A larger stretched the ionic conductor up to 500% and then attached it
increase in resistance was detected at higher strains (e.g., ΔR/ as is on a large-area body part (elbow) (Figure 5c).
R0 ∼13.3 and 134.4% at ε ∼ 10 and 100%, respectively), which Considering the maximum stretchability of the ionic
is natural considering that the ionic conductor film elongates in conductor, there is room for additional deformation. The
the longitudinal direction and becomes thinner. Consistent overall variation in ΔR/R0 is shown in Figure 5d. The first
responses to repeated stimuli were observed irrespective of the increment of the resistance (ΔR/R0 ∼ 663%) was induced by
strain amplitude. Moreover, the ionic conductor recognized stretching the ionoskin up to ∼500%. Afterward, the elbow
the change in frequencies of applied strains with high with the ionoskin was bent and straightened at different
32537 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 32533−32540
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces www.acsami.org Research Article

indicate that using the binary polymer blends as gelators is


widely applicable and effective to modulate the deformability
of ionic conductors, and the resulting ultrastretchable system is
beneficial for ionoskin applications.


*
ASSOCIATED CONTENT
sı Supporting Information
The Supporting Information is available free of charge at
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.2c07334.
Synthetic routes, SEC traces, and differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) thermograms for homopolymers;
rheological properties of the PMMA homopolymer-
based ionic conductor; rheological characteristics of the
PBA homopolymer-based ionic conductor; appearance
difference of PMMA- and PBA-based ionic conductors;
isothermal frequency sweeps at various temperatures
(0−160 °C) for three representative ionic conductors
containing 0, 3, and 4 wt % PBA in the co-gelator; Bode
plots of the ternary ionic conductors at various PBA
weight ratios; shape retention test of the ternary blend-
based ionic conductor containing 80 wt % [BMI][TFSI]
under ambient conditions and in a glovebox filled with
an inert gas (Ar); and optical microscopy image of the
Figure 5. Relative resistance changes of the ternary blend-based PMMA/PEO blend-based ionic conductor with a PEO
ionoskins attached to small-area body parts such as (a) a finger and content of 3 wt % and stress−strain curves of ionic
(b) wrist. (c) Photographs of two representative states of the conductors based on various gelators (PDF)
ionoskin. The ionoskin elongated to 500% was directly transferred
onto a large-area body part, the elbow. (d) Successful real-time
monitoring of elbow motions at different frequencies after stretching
to ε = 500%.
■ AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
Hong Chul Moon − Department of Chemical Engineering,
University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea;
speeds, which was precisely detected (Figure 5d). We also note orcid.org/0000-0003-2598-0925; Email: hcmoon@
that human motion monitoring is usually conducted with a uos.ac.kr
period obviously shorter than the relaxation time of the
conductor. Therefore, the elastic behavior of the ionic Authors
conductor can be maintained during the test. Jin Han Kwon − Department of Chemical Engineering,

■ CONCLUSIONS
In summary, we demonstrated the effectiveness of binary
University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea
Yong Min Kim − Department of Chemical Engineering,
University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea
polymer blend gelators in tailoring the mechanical properties Complete contact information is available at:
of the ionic conductors. When less than 3 wt % of the flexible https://pubs.acs.org/10.1021/acsami.2c07334
low-Tg PBA was doped to prevent macrophase separation, the
stretchability of stiff ionic conductors based on high-Tg PMMA Notes
and [BMI][TFSI] was notably improved by reducing chain The authors declare no competing financial interest.
entanglement of the polymer gelators and effective dissipating
of the applied stresses through deformation. As a result, the
optimized ternary ionic conductor exhibited ultrahigh
■ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by the National Research
stretchability (∼1500%) with a gauge factor of ∼1.32 over Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea
the entire strain range, suitable elasticity (1.8 × 105 Pa), and government (MSIT) (NRF-2022R1A2C4001425). This work
high durability (e.g., the recovery ratio of ∼86.3% and residual was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea
strain of ∼11.5% after 1000 stretching/releasing cycles). A tiny (NRF) Grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT for
piece of the ionic conductor was used as an ionoskin to track Original Technology Program (NRF-2020M3D1A2102869).
the motions of small-area body parts, such as a finger and wrist,
in real time. A large-area body part (elbow) was also
successfully monitored with a small piece of the ternary ionic
conductor by favorably exploiting its excellent stretchability.
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