A universal interface for plug-and-play assembly of stretchable devices
Abstract
Stretchable hybrid devices have enabled high-fidelity implantable 1-3 and on-skin 4-6 monitoring of physiological signals. These devices typically contain soft modules that match the mechanical requirements in humans 7,8 and soft robots 9,10, rigid modules containing Si-based microelectronics 11,12 and protective encapsulation modules 13,14. To make such a system mechanically compliant, the interconnects between the modules need to tolerate stress concentration that may limit their stretching and ultimately cause debonding failure 15-17. Here, we report a universal interface that can reliably connect soft, rigid and encapsulation modules together to form robust and highly stretchable devices in a plug-and-play manner. The interface, consisting of interpenetrating polymer and metal nanostructures, connects modules by simply pressing without using pastes. Its formation is depicted by a biphasic network growth model. Soft-soft modules joined by this interface achieved 600% and 180% mechanical and electrical stretchability, respectively. Soft and rigid modules can also be electrically connected using the above interface. Encapsulation on soft modules with this interface is strongly adhesive with an interfacial toughness of 0.24 N mm-1. As a proof of concept, we use this interface to assemble stretchable devices for in vivo neuromodulation and on-skin electromyography, with high signal quality and mechanical resistance. We expect such a plug-and-play interface to simplify and accelerate the development of on-skin and implantable stretchable devices.
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Electronics assembled with the UI were used for in vivo neural modulation and skin electromyography monitoring with high signal quality and mechanical robustness.
“Additionally, electronics assembled with this interface were used for in vivo neural modulation and skin electromyography monitoring with high signal quality and mechanical robustness.”
From Artificial intelligence enhanced sensors - enabling technologies to next-generation healthcare and biomedical platform (2023) · cites this paper as Jiang et al. 2023
A one-stop universal interface (UI) between rigid and soft modules reliably connected soft, rigid, and encapsulation modules to form robust and highly stretchable electronics in a plug-and-play manner.
“This UI presented reliably connected soft, rigid, and encapsulation modules to form robust and highly stretchable electronics in a plug-and-play manner.”
From Artificial intelligence enhanced sensors - enabling technologies to next-generation healthcare and biomedical platform (2023) · cites this paper as Jiang et al. 2023
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- Authors
- Jiang, Y., Ji, S., Sun, J., Huang, J., Li, Y., Zou, G., Salim, T., Wang, C., Li, W., Jin, H., Xu, J., Wang, S., Lei, T., Yan, X., Peh, W. Y. X., Yen, S.-C., Liu, Z., Yu, M., Zhao, H., Lu, Z., Li, G., Gao, H., Liu, Z., Bao, Z., & Chen, X.
- Affiliations
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- Stanford University (US)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Liu, Zhihua
- Liu, Zhiyuan
- Bao, Zhenan
- Chen, Xiaodong
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2023-02-15
- Volume
- 614
- Issue
- 7948
- Pages
- 456-462
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W4320913268
- Cited by
- 422
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 79 · 2025: 143 · 2024: 148 · 2023: 52
- FWCI
- 33.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies
- Keywords
- stretchable devices, universal interface, electrical interconnects, interfacial toughness, stretchable electronics
- MeSH terms
- Wearable Electronic Devices, Electromyography, Electronics, Medical, Humans, Monitoring, Physiologic, Polymers, Skin, Pliability, Prostheses and Implants, Nanostructures
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