Stretchability
and areal coverage of active devices are critical
design considerations of stretchable or wearable photovoltaics and
photodetections where high areal coverages are required. However,
simultaneously maximizing both properties in conventional island-bridge
structures through traditional two-dimensional manufacturing processes
is difficult due to their inherent trade-offs. Here, a 3D printer-based
strategy to achieve extreme system stretchability and high areal coverage
through combining fused deposition modeling (FDM) and flexible conductive
nanocomposites is reported. Distinguished from typical approaches
of using conductive filaments for FDM which have a flexibility dilemma
and conductivity trade-offs, the proposed axiomatic approach to embed
a two-dimensional silver nanowire percolation network into the surfaces
of flexible 3D printed structures offers sufficient conductivity and
deformability as well as additional benefits of electrical junction
enhancement and encapsulation of silver nanowires. Kirigami/origami-pattern-guided
three-dimensional arrangements of encapsulated interconnections provide
efficient control over stretchability and areal coverage. The suggested
process enables a perovskite solar module with an initial areal coverage
of ∼97% to be electrically and mechanically reversible with
400% system stretchability and 25 000% interconnect stretchability
under the 1000 cycle test, by folding down or hiding the origami-applied
interconnects under the islands. This 3D printing strategy of potentially
low cost, large size capabilities, and high speed is promising for
highly flexible future energy conversion applications.
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