Stretchable electrodes are an essential component that determines the functionality and reliability of stretchable electronics, but face the challenge of balancing conductivity and stretchability. This work proposes a new conducting concept called the interfacial percolation network (PN) that results in stretchable electrodes with high conductivity, large stretchability, and high stability. The interfacial PN is composed of a 2D silver nanowires (AgNWs) PN and a protruding 3D AgNWs PN embedded on the surface and in the near-surface region of an elastic polymer matrix, respectively. The protruded PN is obtained by changing the arrangements of AgNWs from horizontal to quasi-vertical through introducing foreign polymer domains in the near-surface region of the polymer matrix. The resulting electrode achieves a conductivity of 13 500 S cm-1 and a stretchability of 660%. Its resistance changes under stretched conditions are orders of magnitude lower than those of conventional 2D PN and 2D + 3D PN. An interfacial PN electrode made from liquid metal remained its conductivity at 46 750 S cm-1 after the electrode underwent multiple stretch-release cycles with a deformation of >600%. The concept of interfacial PN provides fruitful implications for the design of stretchable electronics.
Keywords: AgNWs; interfacial percolation network; liquid metal; stretchable electrode.
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