Toward Flexible Printed Electronics: A Spider‐Silk‐Inspired, Strong and Tough Thermoplastic Polyamide Elastomer

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Authors: Bo Yang, Liyue Zhang, Mengjing Yang, Hangzhi Guo, Zhibo Lin, Xinyu Qi, Wu Li, Haiyan Yan, Meng Li, Yanhui Chen, Weixing Chen, Zhenguo Liu
+1 more Wei Huang
Cited by: 2
References: 37

Abstract

ABSTRACT The advancement of intelligent and compliant flexible electronic devices demands polymer substrate materials that exhibit both high strength and toughness, which are critical for the performance and durability of printed circuits. Inspired by the structure of spider silk, we designed and synthesized a series of naphthalene‐containing thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPAE) in this work. The optimized TPAE‐ N 40% ‐ PEG 25% exhibits an impressive hydrogen bonding density of up to 41.8%, leading to outstanding mechanical properties: a tensile strength of 37.3 MPa, an elongation at break of 470.8%, and a remarkable toughness of 134.6 MJ/m 3 . When it was employed as a flexible substrate film (0.1 mm thickness), it reliably supported printed conductive traces, demonstrating stable electrical signal output under cyclic deformation. Furthermore, the substrate attached to fingers and wrists successfully monitored bending motions through consistent electrical responses, highlighting its potential for flexible strain sensors. Notably, the printed circuits can be completely removed by soaking in anhydrous ethanol for 12 h, enabling the full recovery and reuse of the substrate film. This spider‐silk‐inspired strategy provides a new design pathway for developing strong, tough, and sustainable polymer substrates for next‐generation flexible electronics.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Advanced Materials and Mechanics Dielectric materials and actuators

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Science
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
13
Issue
36
Pages
e75129–e75129
Publication date
2 April 2026
Language
EN