Ultrastretchable Graphene-Based Molecular Barriers for Chemical Protection, Detection, and Actuation

Abstract

A wide range of technologies requires barrier films to impede molecular transport between the external environment and a desired internal microclimate. Adding stretchability to barrier films would enable the applications in packaging, textiles, and flexible devices, but classical barrier materials utilize dense, ordered molecular architectures that easily fracture under small tensile strain. Here, we show that textured graphene-based coatings can serve as ultrastretchable molecular barriers expandable to 1500% areal strain through programmed unfolding that mimics the elasticity of polymers. These coatings retain barrier function under large deformation and can be conformally applied to planar or curved surfaces, where they are washfast and mechanically robust to cycling. These graphene-polymer bilayer structures also function as sensors or actuators by transducing chemical stimuli into mechanical deformation and electrical resistance change through asymmetric polymer swelling. These results may enable multifunctional fabrics that integrate chemical protection, sensing, and actuation, with further applications as selective barriers, membranes, stretchable electronics, or soft robotics.