Electrical engineering

Control engineering

Biosensor

Nanotechnology

Topology (electrical circuits)

Electrical conductor

Decoupling (probability)

Nanoscopic scale

Crystallography

Gene

Crystal structure

Engineering

Composite material

Chemistry

Materials science

Computer science

Supramolecular chemistry

Biochemistry

Bioelectronics

Robustness (evolution)

Science

Intrinsically stretchable bioelectronic devices based on soft and conducting organic materials have been regarded as the ideal interface for seamless and biocompatible integration with the human body. A remaining challenge is to combine high mechanical robustness with good electrical conduction, especially when patterned at small feature sizes. We develop a molecular engineering strategy based on a topological supramolecular network, which allows for the decoupling of competing effects from multiple molecular building blocks to meet complex requirements. We obtained simultaneously high conductivity and crack-onset strain in a physiological environment, with direct photopatternability down to the cellular scale. We further collected stable electromyography signals on soft and malleable octopus and performed localized neuromodulation down to single-nucleus precision for controlling organ-specific activities through the delicate brainstem.

Topological supramolecular network enabled high-conductivity, stretchable organic bioelectronics