Publication

Adaptive tendril coiling of climbing plants has long inspired the artificial soft microsystem for actuation and
morphing. The current bionic research efforts on tendril coiling focus on either the preparation of materials with the
coiling geometry or the design of self-shaping materials. However, the realization of two key functional features of the
tendril, the spring-like buffering connection and the axial contraction, remains elusive. Herein, we devise a conductive
tendril by fusing conductive yarns into tendril configuration, bypassing the prevailing conductivity constraints and
mechanical limitations. The conductive tendril not only inherits an electrophysiology buffering mechanics with exceptional
conductance retention ability against extreme stretching but also exhibits excellent contractive actuation performance. The
integrative design of the ultraelastic conductive tendril shows a combination of compliant mobility, actuation, and sensory
capabilities. Such smart biomimetic material holds great prospects in the fields of ultrastretchable electronics, artificial
muscles, and wearable bioelectronic therapeutics.

Researcher / Author: Yin Cheng, Ranran Wang, Kwok Hoe Chan, Xin Lu, Jing Sun and Ghim Wei Ho

ACS Nano 2018, 12, 3898−3907; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201805921