Abstract
Stretchable electronics, as a key enabler for next-generation wearables, require conductors that remain functional under mechanical strain. Percolating silver nanowire (AgNW) networks are a promising strategy to achieve this because they combine metallic conductivity with mechanical compliance. However, when deposited on elastic substrates, these networks often fail due to delamination and cracking. Embedding AgNWs beneath the surface offers an effective solution, particularly with light-based processing as an elegant and controllable means to achieve this. Our laser-integration approach exploits the melt pool and Marangoni convection to draw nanomaterials into a polymer surface [1] and is broadly applicable provided the polymer substrate is a thermoplastic [2]. Recently, this approach was extended to AgNW networks [3]. However, this mechanism (laser embedding via percolation interlocking) was not applicable beyond thermoplastics: cross-linked elastomers do not melt, precluding melt pool formation [4]. In this lecture, we will discuss how this limitation can be overcome. In a side-chain-crystalline cross-linked network (bistable adhesive polymer, BAP [5]), a reversible ~30 °C semicrystalline-to-amorphous transition provides a laser-addressable softening channel while the permanent network stays intact. Upon laser irradiation, individual AgNWs induce localized softening, evidenced by an optical halo corresponding to the transition isotherm, and are driven beneath the surface, as confirmed by atomic force microscopy (Fig. 1). Control experiments on bare BAP confirm a nanowire-mediated photothermal mechanism. This work establishes a foundation for full-network integration with simultaneous junction welding, ultimately advancing toward autonomous laser-based platforms for the manufacturing of elastic electronics.