Ultrastretchable alternating current electroluminescent panels for arbitrary luminous patterns

Abstract

Stretchable alternating current electroluminescent devices represent an emerging optoelectronic technology with skin-like deformability. Despite robust construction and reliable performances, the conventional sandwiched device is only compatible with simple luminous features instead of complicated patterns. An unconventional design of intrinsically stretchable ACEL panels is reported here, featuring capacitively coupled bottom interdigitated liquid metal electrodes and top hydrogel transparent electrodes. Arbitrary luminous feature resembling the top electrode pattern is readily accessible without tailored designs. A facile procedure is established to construct functional devices exhibiting ultrahigh stretchability to 400% strain and durable performance under repetitive deformations. The successful integration in a soft pneumatic actuator further demonstrates the promising potential of stretchable ACEL panels for graphic information display in soft devices and systems.