Intrinsically Stretchable and Shape Memory Conducting Nanofiber for Programmable Flexible Electronic Films

Recently, flexible and stretchable electronic films have been drawing increasing attention but are limited by the nature of elastomeric materials and the embedded structure; thus, these films cannot achieve long-term and stable electrical performance at certain deformation states in practical applications. Here, we report intrinsically stretchable and shape memory polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol/silver nanowires films (PPAFs) based on a dual-layer network structure of nanofibers that can achieve both shape-fixable and deformation-reversible conductivity in the elongation range. We also demonstrate the resistance characteristic of PPAFs at the same/different deformation rates, which shows the unique memorable resistance and the variable conversion of a "conductive-insulation-conductive" state. Importantly, the change in sheet resistance of the PPAFs fixed at any rate of deformation could sustainably recover the initial sheet resistance even after cyclic thermal responses. Furthermore, we successfully develop the programmable conductivity of PPAFs as a monitoring, switching, and alarming device for shape memory cycles through the ingenious design of a microcircuit and simulation analysis using Proteus software. PPAFs show great potential for changeable characteristics in both shape and resistance for use in flexible electronic films.