Silver Nanotube Networks with Ultrahigh Strain Limit as Reliable Flexible Transparent Electrode and Tactile Sensor

Durable and extremely deformable electrodes play a significant role in the field of high-strain flexible electronics, including wearable electronics and flexible tactile sensor. However, the existing flexible transparent electrodes hardly have a high strain limit and low square resistance simultaneously, like the combination of carbon-based electrodes and metal electrodes. Herein, a semicovered silver nanotube (SC-AgNT) network electrode is proposed. The SC-AgNT network electrode consists of semicovered polymer nanofibers and a highly integrated Ag nanotube network for achieving high strain limit and low square resistance. Further, a tactile sensor based on this electrode is built, demonstrating the advance of the new electrodes. The strength enhancement layer consists of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers in the SC-AgNT network electrode, making the electrode have the minimum bending radius of 0.1 mm and the maximum twist angle of 120 degrees (0.9 omega sq(-1) at 94% transmittance). A tactile sensing interface based on the SC-AgNT network electrode displays highly stable electrical properties under multiple types and times of comprehensive deformation and touch deformation. The technical strategy for strengthening metal network electrodes and preparing integrated low-resistance metal networks can be extended to enhance the performance of other metal-based flexible electrodes and flexible devices.