Stretchable Self-Doped Conductive Polymers that Defy the Insulating Nature of Rubber

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18814
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 21:Electrical and electronic engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Matsuhisa Naoji 東京大学, 生産技術研究所, 准教授 (90879876)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 芦沢 実 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 助教 (80391845)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ストレッチャブルエレクトロニクス / 導電性高分子 / ハイドロゲル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have successfully developed a self-doped conductive polymer material that defies the conventional insulating properties of rubber by simultaneously achieving high conductivity exceeding 200 S/cm and high stretchability exceeding 150%. In this study, we have not only achieved high stretchability in hole-transporting self-doped conductive polymers but also in electron-transporting self-doped conductive polymers. Moreover, the developed self-doped conductive polymers can be uniformly dispersed in a supramolecular hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties. Despite being 85% water, the hydrogel exhibits remarkable conductivity of 5 S/cm and an extraordinary stretchability of 1000%. These findings have paved the way for the development of various innovative materials and devices.

Free Research Field

伸縮性電子デバイス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

単一高分子材料で高導電性と高伸長性を同時に達成する自己ドープ型導電性高分子材料の開発に成功し、ゴムは電気を流さないという常識を打ち砕くことに成功した。さらに開発した材料は、質量比で80%以上が水のハイドロゲル材料中に均一分散することが可能で、ハイドロゲル材料でありながら5 S/cmもの高い電気導電性と1000%を超える高い伸長性を同時に実現する導電性ハイドロゲル材料を実現し、電気伝導性を得にくいというハイドロゲルの常識を打破することにも成功した。