Coexistence of Antiadhesion Performance, Intrinsic Stretchability, and Transparency

Abstract

Antiadhesion performance, stretchability, and transparency are highly desirable properties for materials and devices in numerous applications. However, the existing strategies for imparting materials with antiadhesion performance generally induce rigidity and opacity, and principle is yet to be provided for designing materials that combine these important parameters. Here, we show that four factors including a low surface energy, appropriate cross-linking, availability of a homogeneous and amorphous composite, and a smooth material surface can be used to design an intrinsically stretchable and transparent polymer film with antiadhesion performance against various liquids including water, diiodomethane, hexadecane, cooking oil, and pump oil. The film can be obtained via simply molding a waterborne polymer network at ambient temperature. Furthermore, the film can retain its antiadhesion performance and outstanding transparency even when it is subjected to large mechanical deformations reaching up to 1800%, and its maximal fracture strain exceeds 3000%. These design concepts offer a general platform for achieving multiple material functionalities, and may open new avenues for the surface functionalization of stretchable materials and devices