Deformable Conductor Ink Composition for Stretchable Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretchable conductive systems face challenges in achieving high stretchability with excellent electrical conductivity and fatigue resistance while being cost-effective and suitable for high-throughput manufacturing, with current methods often requiring complex processes, toxic substances, or limited applicability.
Innovation Solution
An ink composition comprising transition metal ions, a reducing agent, and a polymer or polymer precursor, which upon thermal treatment forms a percolated network of metal nano- or microstructures embedded in a polymer matrix, resulting in a deformable conductor with high conductivity and fatigue resistance, suitable for printing and industrial application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid metal conductors on elastomers are used, then optimal conductivity is achieved at almost any strain values, but industrial manufacturing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal evaporation processes (requiring high vacuum) with a solution-based inkjet printing method. The conductive ink containing metal nanoparticles and binder is printed directly onto the elastomeric substrate and cured to form stretchable conductors, eliminating complex vacuum equipment and enabling simple industrial manufacturing while maintaining excellent conductivity and stretchability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the metal conductor from bulk liquid metal to a nanoparticle suspension in a binder solution. This allows the metal to be deposited as a printable ink that forms a percolated network of conductive pathways, achieving both manufacturability and electrical performance.
2Reliability
If thermal evaporation steps are used for noble metal layers, then excellent conductivity and fatigue resistance are achieved, but high vacuum requirements limit large-scale production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes thermal evaporation in high vacuum with a solution processing method using inkjet printing. The conductive ink is printed onto the substrate and cured to form the conductor, eliminating the need for vacuum equipment and enabling high-volume production while maintaining fatigue resistance through proper material selection and network formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive ink formulation contains metal nanoparticles suspended in a binder that self-assembles into a percolated network during printing and curing. This self-organizing process eliminates the need for complex vacuum deposition equipment and enables simple, scalable manufacturing while achieving the desired conductor performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional conductive inks are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but conductivity is insufficient for stretchable interconnects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses metal nanoparticles instead of conventional conductive polymer materials, changing the conductivity mechanism from polymer-based to metal nanoparticle network-based. This provides significantly higher conductivity while maintaining solution processability and printability, enabling both simple manufacturing and excellent electrical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive ink is formulated as a composite material containing metal nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer binder. The metal nanoparticles provide the conductive pathways while the binder provides mechanical adhesion and flexibility, creating a composite that combines the advantages of both materials for stretchable interconnect applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method produces a deformable conductor with preserved conductivity at high strain values and minimal resistance changes after multiple stretching cycles, adhering firmly to substrates, and is cost-efficient for large-scale production.
Implementation Method 1
comprising a source of transition metal ions, a reducing agent or a reducing species (suitable/configured for reducing the transition metal ions)
Implementation Method 2
a polymerizable polymer precursor, in particular a monomer... upon thermal treatment in situ a reduction of the transition metal ions and a polymerization reaction
Implementation Method 3
upon thermal treatment in situ a reduction of the transition metal ions and a polymerization reaction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an ink composition, a kit comprising components of the ink composition, a method of manufacturing a deformable conductor utilizing the ink composition, a deformable conductor obtainable by the method, an electronic device, in particular a wearable and/or stretchable electronic device, comprising the deformable conductor, a method of manufactuing a conductor, a conductor obtainable by the method and an electronic device comprising the conductor. The ink composition comprises a source of transition metal ions, a reducing agent and a polymer and/or a polymer precursor, the polymer precursor comprising a polymerizable terminal multiple bond. The method of manufacturing a deformable conductor comprises the steps of applying the ink composition on at least a part of a surface of a deformable substrate and thermally treating and/or irradiating the ink composition.