Extended Data Fig. 3: Soft-soft BIND connection is easy to use and has anti-tearing properties.

a-c, Pressing time (a), applied pressure (b) and peeling direction (c) do not influence the adhesion strength of BIND connection very much, indicating that BIND interfaces are easy to use. Simply pressing for 1 s at a low pressure of 0.001 MPa (i.e., a normal finger press) is enough to connect BIND interfaces together. Consistent with the study in Extended Data Fig. 2, non-adhesive connections (120 nm thick Au layer) cannot adhere regardless of pressure. In all other characterization, lap shear test was employed because it’s more common in practical application. d-g, Unlike ACF connection which breaks easily, BIND connection is resistant to cuts. Lap shear test on ACF and BIND connections that were initially cut (~1 mm) in the middle shows BIND connection withstood tearing forces >1.4 N (d) and remained stretchable even at > 500% strain (e). Photos show ACF connection with an initial cut broke easily at the cut location at 50% strain (f), while the initial cut in a BIND connection could still be stretched at 500% strain (g). Error bars in a-c are s.d. from 3-4 samples. Error bars in e are s.d. from 3 samples.