A Non-Volatile, Low-Voltage, Stretchable Transparent Dielectric Heater for Real-World Autonomous Thermal Management Platform

Abstract

Stretchable transparent dielectric heaters are essential for smart thermal management in next-generation wearable electronics. However, existing hydrogel electrode-based devices suffer from rapid degradation under environmental stresses, limiting their real-world applicability. Here, ionogel electrodes leveraging non-volatility and thermal stability, which achieve covalent bonding integration with poly(vinyl chloride) gel to eliminate interfacial delamination in stretchable heaters are introduced. The ionogel electrodes exhibit high ionic conductivity (13 mS cm−1), stretchability (187%), and transparency (>90%), making them ideally suited for deformable transparent devices. The resulting stretchable transparent dielectric heaters deliver unprecedented performance, reaching 98.6 °C at 400 V with ultrafast heating rates (1.56 °C s−1), 14 times faster than hydrogel electrode-based dielectric heaters. Remarkably, the heaters achieve the therapeutic temperature of 45 °C for wearable applications at 100 V, representing an 80% voltage reduction compared with a hydrogel electrode-based dielectric heater. Also, the heater demonstrates environmental resistance across extreme temperatures (4–80 °C), low humidity (10–60% relative humidity), and repeated drying-swelling cycles, while sustaining functionality over extended operation (≥ 12 h). Demonstrations in wearable thermoregulation, transparent de-frosting, and smart greenhouse systems validate the practical viability of the system and establish it as a transformative solution for soft electronics in the real world.