Edward J. Barron

Highlights • Constituent materials synergically combine with topology to tune mechanical properties • Work of fracture-network stiffness correlation can be reversed by material choice • A strategy to toughen networks on demand is demonstrated Summary Disordered networks are ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic systems, with mechanical properties that span from significantly compliant to extremely rigid.

Highlights • Constituent materials synergically combine with topology to tune mechanical properties • Work of fracture-network stiffness correlation can be reversed by material choice • A strategy to toughen networks on demand is demonstrated Summary Disordered networks are ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic systems, with mechanical properties that span from significantly compliant to extremely rigid.

1 INTRODUCTION Soft electronics can be worn or integrated into clothing to create functionalities such as health and body monitoring,1-5 environmental sensing,6, 7 and seamless power storage and transfer.8-10 In contrast to traditional electronics, wearable systems require careful consideration of their mechanical properties and body placement to ensure that the wearer is not limited in mobility.