Self‐Healing Metal Circuits via Controlled Electrochemical Migration: Turning A Reliability Hazard Into an Automatically Triggered and Repeatable Repair Strategy

ABSTRACT Achieving repeatable self‐healing without human intervention in metal circuits remains a critical challenge. Here, we repurpose electrochemical migration, typically a reliability hazard, into a controlled mechanism for intrinsic conductive self‐healing. By optimizing structure of flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs), directional electrochemical migration is allowed to bridge mechanically damaged traces self‐driven by the operational voltage of the PCB itself. The PCBs comprises a healable supramolecular substrate (consists of linear polyurethane and hyperbranched oligomer (LPU/HBO)), Ag circuits, a polyvinyl alcohol isolation layer, gelatin/glycerol/KNO 3 colloidal electrolyte, and an LPU/HBO encapsulation layer. Upon damage, capillary action drives the electrolyte infiltration into cracks, and then promote electrochemical migration between severed wires under working voltage, autonomously reconnecting fractures via metallic dendrite growth. The self‐healing procedure is repeatable, restoring ≈ 100% current in several hours at room temperature, while metal trace can withstand up to 350,000 bending cycles. This work transforms electrochemical migration from a failure mode into a sustainable self‐healing strategy, advancing flexible electronics toward long‐term reliability.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-12-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202529989
Primary Topic
Polymer composites and self-healing
Type
article
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article

Self‐Healing Metal Circuits via Controlled Electrochemical Migration: Turning A Reliability Hazard Into an Automatically Triggered and Repeatable Repair Strategy

Wei Mo, M RONG, Fei Gao, Ming Zhang et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Polymer composites and self-healing
article

Self‐Healing Metal Circuits via Controlled Electrochemical Migration: Turning A Reliability Hazard Into an Automatically Triggered and Repeatable Repair Strategy

Wei Mo, M RONG, Fei Gao, Ming Zhang, Ze Ping Zhang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Achieving repeatable self‐healing without human intervention in metal circuits remains a critical challenge. Here, we repurpose electrochemical migration, typically a reliability hazard, into a controlled mechanism for intrinsic conductive self‐healing. By optimizing structure of flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs), directional electrochemical migration is allowed to bridge mechanically damaged traces self‐driven by the operational voltage of the PCB itself. The PCBs comprises a healable supramolecular substrate (consists of linear polyurethane and hyperbranched oligomer (LPU/HBO)), Ag circuits, a polyvinyl alcohol isolation layer, gelatin/glycerol/KNO 3 colloidal electrolyte, and an LPU/HBO encapsulation layer. Upon damage, capillary action drives the electrolyte infiltration into cracks, and then promote electrochemical migration between severed wires under working voltage, autonomously reconnecting fractures via metallic dendrite growth. The self‐healing procedure is repeatable, restoring ≈ 100% current in several hours at room temperature, while metal trace can withstand up to 350,000 bending cycles. This work transforms electrochemical migration from a failure mode into a sustainable self‐healing strategy, advancing flexible electronics toward long‐term reliability.

Advanced Functional Materials
Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 47%
Polymer composites and self-healing
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Self‐Healing Metal Circuits via Controlled Electrochemical Migration: Turning A Reliability Hazard Into an Automatically Triggered and Repeatable Repair Strategy — Wei Mo, M RONG, et al. · Advanced Functional Materials (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS