Hyperconnective 3D Polymeric Nanofiber Networks for Tissue-Mimetic Soft Electronics

Microfibrillar networks are essential structures in natural biological tissues, which exhibit a combination of mechanical flexibility, fracture resistance, and mass permeability to enable many important physiological functions. Inspired by natural soft tissues, we exploit biomimetic nanofiber composites as building blocks for the construction of a variety of bio-integrated soft devices. In this presentation, I will introduce our recent works on nanofiber-enabled polymer soft bioelectronics including the following examples: (1) Electroconductive hydrogels and devices involving framework-assisted assembly of conducting polymers; (2) Rugged and breathable kirigami electronics from hyperconnective nanofiber aerogels; and (3) Theoretical understanding and microstructural engineering of biomimetic 3D nanofiber networks. These works address the fundamental microstructural mismatches between electronic devices and biological soft tissues, paving the way for the development of advanced wearable human-machine interfaces, implantable electronics, tissue engineering platforms, and other biomedical systems.<br/><br/>References:<br/>1. H. He, H. Li, L. Xu* et al., manuscript submitted (2022)<br/>2. H. Liu, H. Li, Z. Wang, L. Xu* et al., Advanced Materials 2207350 (2022).<br/>3. H. He, X. Wei, Y. Lin*, L. Xu* et al., Nature Communications 13, 4242 (2022).<br/>4. H. Li, L. Xu* et al., Advanced Functional Materials 32, 2202792 (2022).