3D Printing of Deformable Multicolor Alternating-Current Electroluminescent Devices Through Rational Design of Functional Inks.

Abstract

The development of flexible and customizable electroluminescent devices represents a significant challenge in advanced manufacturing. This paper introduces a novel approach for fabricating highly deformable, fully 3D-printed alternating-current electroluminescent devices through the rational design of UV-curable functional inks. The devices feature a unique multilayer structure including a UV-curable thiol-ene crosslinked emission layer (ZBS-t-SE) and temperature-responsive ionic hydrogel electrodes (FFP). The ZBS-t-SE demonstrates exceptional mechanical properties, with a strain of 259% at 727 kPa, whereas the FFP electrodes exhibit excellent printability through controlled micelle formation, high ionic conductivity (2.5 × 10⁻² S cm^-1), and stable performance under repeated deformation (>3000 cycles at 200% strain). The optimized devices maintain stable operation under various deformation modes, including stretching, bending, and twisting, achieving a maximum luminance of 267.4 cd m^- ² at 200% strain. Furthermore, the 3D printing approach enables the fabrication of complex 3D structures with multi-color emission through precise spatial control of functional materials, presenting a transformative strategy for next-generation flexible electronics and display technologies.