Ionic Gels and Their Applications in Stretchable Electronics

Ionic gels represent a novel class of stretchable materials where ionic conducting liquid is immobilized in a polymer matrix. This review focuses on the design of ionic gel materials and device fabrication of ionic‐gel‐based stretchable electronics. In particular, recent progress in ionic‐gel‐based electronic skin (pressure/strain sensors, electric double‐layer transistors, etc.), flexible displays, energy storage devices, and soft actuators are summarized, followed by a discussion of challenges in developing ionic‐gel‐based electronics and suggestions for future research directions that might overcome those challenges. Ionic gels exhibit advantageous electrical properties, stretchability, mechanical conformality, good transparency, and biocompatibility. Recent progress in the design of ionic gel materials and the device fabrication of ionic‐gel‐based stretchable electronics and their applications are summarized. The current challenges in developing ionic‐gel‐based electronics and future research directions are discussed.