Self-Healing Polymer: The Key to Flexible Conductors in Wearable Electronics

A groundbreaking new self-healing polymer suitable for flexible conductors in wearable devices and robots has been developed by RIKEN chemists.

The study is featured in the esteemed Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Traditional electrical conductors used in electronic devices are rigid and prone to breakage, making them unsuitable for flexible applications like wearable electronics and robotics.

Researchers are now focusing on creating robust and flexible conductors with self-healing properties to repair damage automatically.

Zhaomin Hou from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science explains, “Incorporating self-healing capabilities can effectively address these issues by restoring functionality after damage.”

By modifying common polyolefins with a sulfur-containing group, Hou and his team have produced a self-healing polymer ideal for flexible conductors.

The innovative catalyst used by the team allowed them to incorporate thioether in a precise manner, resulting in a polymer with self-healing and adhesive properties.

The strong bond between the self-healing polymer and gold coatings ensures durability, making it suitable for various advanced technologies.

Future research aims to develop a new range of self-healing polymers for flexible conductors with enhanced durability and applications in advanced technologies.