Stretchable self-healing materials: From mechanisms to applications

Stretchable self-healing materials have emerged as a groundbreaking innovation in materials science, offering remarkable potential for applications requiring both durability and flexibility. These materials are engineered to repair damage autonomously while maintaining mechanical integrity under significant deformations, a combination of properties critical for next-generation technologies. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, mechanisms, and applications of stretchable self-healing materials, bridging fundamental science and applied engineering.The self-healing behavior of these materials arises from dynamic bonds either reversible covalentor hybrid interactions facilitated by physical or chemical processes. Stretchability, on the other hand, is achieved through structural design, such as entangled polymer networks, soft-hard domain separations, or bioinspired architectures. By synergistically combining these attributes, researchers have developed materials capable of enduring mechanical stresses while repairing micro- and macro-level damages.We explore the mechanisms in these materials, focusing on energy dissipation, chain mobility, and bond reformation. Special attention is given to cutting-edge innovations in material synthesis, including hybrid systems that integrate nanomaterials for enhanced functionality, such as conductivity or thermal responsiveness. This review also discusses how these advances are enabling transformative applications, particularly in wearable electronics, where flexibility and resilience are paramount, and in soft robotics, where self-repairing capabilities can extend operational lifetimes.