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Jung Y, Kim M, Jeong S, Hong S, Ko SH. Strain-Insensitive Outdoor Wearable Electronics by Thermally Robust Nanofibrous Radiative Cooler. ACS Nano 2024; 18:2312-2324. [PMID: 38190550 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Stable outdoor wearable electronics are gaining attention due to challenges in sustaining consistent device performance outdoors, where sunlight exposure and user movement can disrupt operations. Currently, researchers have focused on integrating radiative coolers into wearable devices for outdoor thermal management. However, these approaches often rely on heat-vulnerable thermoplastic polymers for radiative coolers and strain-susceptible conductors that are unsuitable for wearable electronics. Here, we introduce mechanically, electrically, and thermally stable wearable electronics even when they are stretched under sunlight to address these challenges. This achievement is realized by integrating a polydimethylsiloxane nanofibrous cooler and liquid metal conductors for a fully stable wearable device. The thermally robust architecture of nanofibers, based on their inherent properties as thermoset polymers, exhibits excellent cooling performance through high solar reflection and thermal emission. Additionally, laser-patterned conductors possess ideal properties for wearable electronics, including strain-insensitivity, nonsmearing behavior, and negligible contact resistance. As proof, we developed wearable electronics integrated with thermally and electromechanically stable components that accurately detect physiological signals in harsh environments, including light exposure, while stretched up to 30%. This work highlights the potential for the development of everyday wearable electronics capable of reliable operation under challenging external conditions, including user-activity-induced stress and sunlight exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongju Jung
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Minwoo Kim
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongmin Jeong
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangwoo Hong
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Ko
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design (SNU-IAMD), Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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