title: A kirigami approach to engineering elasticity in nanocomposites through patterned defects.
abstract: Efforts to impart elasticity and multifunctionality in nanocomposites focus mainly on integrating polymeric and nanoscale components. Yet owing to the stochastic emergence and distribution of strain-concentrating defects and to the stiffening of nanoscale components at high strains, such composites often possess unpredictable strain-property relationships. Here, by taking inspiration from kirigami—the Japanese art of paper cutting—we show that a network of notches made in rigid nanocomposite and other composite sheets by top-down patterning techniques prevents unpredictable local failure and increases the ultimate strain of the sheets from 4 to 370%. We also show that the sheets' tensile behaviour can be accurately predicted through finite-element modelling. Moreover, in marked contrast to other stretchable conductors, the electrical conductance of the stretchable kirigami sheets is maintained over the entire strain regime, and we demonstrate their use to tune plasma-discharge phenomena. The unique properties of kirigami nanocomposites as plasma electrodes open up a wide range of novel technological solutions for stretchable electronics and optoelectronic devices, among other application possibilities.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [2] Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Terry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.affiliation: Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [2] Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [3] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Lizhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shlian
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [2] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [3] Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shtein
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [2] Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [3] Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [4] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Glotzer
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [2] Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [3] Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA [4] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kotov
mesh_terms: D002616:Chemical Engineering / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon