Highly Stretchable and Reliable, Transparent and Conductive Entangled Graphene Mesh Networks

Abstract

A highly stretchable and reliable, transparent and conductive entangled graphene mesh network (EGMN) exhibits an interconnected percolation network, as usually shown in 1D nanowires, but with the electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of 2D graphene. The unique combination of the 2D material properties and the network structure of wrinkled, waved, and crumpled graphene enables the EGMN to demonstrate excellent electrical reliability, mechanical durability, and thermal stability, even under harsh environmental and external conditions such as very high temperature, humidity, bending, and stretching. Specifically, after 100 000 cycles of bending with radius of 2 mm, the EGMN maintains its resistance similar to its initial value. The EGMN shows a steady monotonic response in resistance to strain cycles of 50 000 times with nearly constant gauge factors of 0.76, 1.67, and 2.55 at 10%, 40%, and 70% strains, respectively. Moreover, the EGMN shows very little change in resistance with the temperature increasing up to 1000 °C, by in situ thermal analysis with transmission electron microscopy and also by long-term stability testing at 70 °C and 70% relative humidity for 30 d. These results demonstrate that this novel entangled graphene mesh network can significantly broaden the application areas for various types of wearable and stretchable devices.

A highly stretchable and reliable, transparent and conductive entangled graphene mesh network (EGMN) exhibits an interconnected percolation network of 2D graphene. The unique combination of 2D material and structure in the EGMN enables excellent electrical reliability, mechanical durability, and environmental robustness. Therefore, the EGMN provides broad applicability to wearable and stretchable devices for challenging requirements such as high stretchability, temperature, and humidity.

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