Design and Fabrication of Highly Elastic and Largely Deformable Nanolaminate Amorphous–Crystalline Metallic Electrodes

Next-generation stretchable displays require a new class of multifunctional electrode materials that simultaneously attain high elasticity, reliable tensile stability, and superior electrical conductivity. Despite their outstanding electrical conductivity, conventional metal thin films often suffer from limited elasticity, typically less than 1%. Conversely, amorphous alloys offer exceptional elasticity, but their electrical resistivities do not meet industrial requirements. In this work, metallic nanolaminates composed of alternately stacked Al-based amorphous alloys and nanocrystalline Al layers as a novel kind of electrode material suitable for stretchable displays are proposed. These materials are designed to synergistically combine the mechanical properties of amorphous alloys with the electrical properties of crystalline Al and can be synthesized using currently available mass production fabrication facilities. Through in situ nanotension experiments, it is demonstrated the nanolaminates achieve a unique combination of a high elastic limit approaching 3%, large tensile elongation exceeding 17%, and excellent electrical resistivity lower than 10 μΩ cm. Deformation mechanisms in nanolaminates are further elucidated through molecular dynamics simulations.