Transparent Stretchable Dual-Network Ionogel with Temperature Tolerance for High-Performance Flexible Strain Sensors

Abstract

A stretchable transparent double network ionogel composed of physically cross-linked poly(vinylidene fluoride-<i>co</i>-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-<i>co</i>-HFP)) and chemically cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate-<i>co</i>-butylmethacrylate) (P(MMA-<i>co</i>-BMA)) elastomer networks within [EMIM][TFSI] ionic liquid was fabricated through a facile one-pot thermal polymerization. The dual-network (DN) ionogel presents good mechanical performance (failure tensile stress 2.31 MPa, strain 307%) with a high loading of ionic liquid (70 wt %) for achieving required ionic conductivity (>0.1 S/m at room temperature). The transparent chemical cross-linked P(MMA-<i>co</i>-BMA) elastomer network endows high transparency (>93%) and high stretchability to the DN ionogel. The DN ionogel maintains good toughness, elasticity, and transparency in a wide temperature range (-40 to 80 °C) for the application in a harsh environment. In addition, the sensitivity of the DN ionogel to the change of environment temperature and deformation was detected and described. The practical potential of the DN ionogel in flexible electronic devices is further revealed by fabricating DN ionogel strain sensors to detect the movement of different human limbs including the bending of the finger, wrist, and elbow as well as the slight throat jitter during the swallowing and vocalization, showing fast response, high sensitivity, and good repeatability.