Biomimetic, Interface-Free Stiffness-Gradient PDMS-Co-Polyimide-Based Soft Materials for Stretchable Electronics and Soft Robotics

The paper of the day talks about Soft materials that are critical to the efficacy of stretchy electronics and soft robotics. In this paper of the day they created polyimide-polydimethylsiloxane (PI-PDMS) copolymers in different ratios to create chemically comparable materials with a wide Young's modulus range. The copolymers' ability to produce seamless stiffness gradients, as revealed by strain-distribution analyses of gradient materials, is especially significant because they are molecularly unified. By optimization of the casting techniques and more precise control over film thickness, further enhancement of the material performance is expected.