A Mechanically Robust, Self-Healing, and Adhesive Biomimetic Camouflage Ionic Conductor for Aquatic Environments

Flexible conductive materials capable of simulating transparent ocean organisms have garnered interest in underwater motion monitoring and covert communication applications. However, the creation of underwater flexible conductors that possess mechanical robustness, adhesion, and self-healing properties remains a challenge. Herein, hydrophobic interaction is combined with electrostatic interaction to obtain a solvent-free transparent poly(ionic liquid) elastomer (PILE) fabricated using soft acrylate monomers and acrylate ionic liquids. The synergy of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions can eliminate the hydration of water molecules underwater, giving the PILE adjustable fracture strength, good elasticity, high stretchability, high toughness, fatigue resistance, underwater self-healing ability, underwater adhesion, and ionic conductivity. As a result, the transparent iontronic sensor generated from the PILE can achieve multifunctional sensing and human motion detection with high sensitivity and stability. In particular, the sensor can also transmit information underwater through stretching, pressing, and non-contact modes, demonstrating its huge potential in underwater flexible iontronic devices.