Photonic vitrimer-based electronics with self-healing and ultrastable visual-digital outputs for wireless strain sensing

Flexible and stretchable electronics with mechanosensory functionality are highly desirable on account of their intriguing applications in smart wearable devices. Unfortunately, the susceptibility to structural damage and single electrical signal output restrict their further practical uses. Here, novel photonic vitrimer-based electronics (PVBEs) with self-healability and ultrastable visual-digital outputs are developed by harnessing vitrimer-induced structural evolutions of both photonic crystal (PC) and piezoresistive carbon textile. They demonstrate excellent strain sensing performances including synchronous electrical/optical response (0.25 s), high sensitivity (gauge factor, GF = 10.3), superior durability (>10000 cycles) and mechanochromism. Notably, dynamic covalent networks within vitrimer endow them self-healing ability of optical function, while the electromechanical performances are stably maintained benefiting from unique fully-embedded structure. Based on these merits, a new type of PVBE is demonstrated by incorporating wireless transmission system. Such a device can function as wirelessly visualized sensor for real-time tracking both large and subtle human movements with optical and electrical dual-signal feedbacks, realizing remote and precise visual-digital outputs. This work offers a versatile platform for emerging self-healing functional devices and visually interactive electronics, bringing huge developments in the era of the Internet of Things.