A Polymerizable Eutectic Strategy toward Multifunctional Ionic Conductive Elastomers for Strain Sensors

The preparation of flexible electronic devices with simultaneously good flexibility, conductivity, transparency, and stability by using a green and efficient preparation process remains challenging. Here, we report a class of polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) based ionic conductive elastomer (ICE) with favorable mechanical properties, transparency, conductivity, and self-healing properties, through the combination of multiple hydrogen bonding and metal–ligand interactions. The ICE with dual ion-conductive networks was prepared by introducing lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) into choline chloride/acrylic acid/itaconic acid (ChCl/AA/IA)-type PDES via UV-photoinitiated polymerization. The results showed that the presence of LiTFSI improved the mechanical properties (7.80 MPa and 2601%) and electrical conductivity (2.66 × 10–3–7.58 × 10–3 S m–1) of this elastomer. The presence of many functional groups in the elastomer network endowed the elastomer with favorable adhesion ability toward many surfaces without external stimuli. In addition, they have been used as strain sensors to monitor human motions, such as finger, wrist, elbow, and knee flexion.