Stretchable Silver Textile Electrodes With Sweat-Corrosion Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conductive textile electrodes, particularly those using silver-based inks, face challenges with high initial resistance and significant resistance increase during stretching due to surfactant effects and elastomeric binder proportion, and are prone to corrosion from biofluids like sweat, limiting their performance in wearable devices.

Innovation Solution

A flexible textile-based silver electrode with a polymeric silver electrode wire embedded in an elastomeric material, where silver flakes are homogeneously distributed, and a hydrophilic polyurethane acrylate elastomer is used, which is treated with a mild aqueous solution containing chloride salts and organic acids to enhance conductivity and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If silver-based inks with high elastomeric binder proportion are used to achieve stretchability, then the textile can accommodate mechanical deformation, but the initial resistance increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestretchabilityVSAvoidinitial resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder by incorporating carboxylic acid groups into the polymer backbone, enabling chemical interaction with silver particles that reduces initial resistance while maintaining stretchability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where carboxylic acid-containing polymer binds with silver particles through chemical coordination, forming a composite conductive ink that achieves both low initial resistance and high stretchability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If silver flakes are used as conductive fillers, then conductivity is achieved, but resistance increases significantly during stretching cycling due to flake separation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconductivityVSAvoidresistance stability during stretching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the morphology parameter of silver fillers from flake-shaped to spherical nanoparticles, which prevents separation during stretching and maintains resistance stability while preserving conductivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical bonding mechanism (physical adhesion of flakes) with chemical bonding mechanism (coordination bonds between carboxylic acid groups and silver particles), eliminating resistance increase during stretching cycles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional silver inks are used, then conductive pathways are formed, but corrosion occurs from biofluids like sweat limiting performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductive pathway formationVSAvoidbiofluid-induced corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces carboxylic acid-containing polymer as an intermediary layer between silver particles and biofluids, which chemically binds to silver and provides corrosion protection while maintaining electrical conductivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure where carboxylic acid polymer and silver particles form a protected conductive network that resists biofluid corrosion while maintaining conductive pathway formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution results in a silver electrode with reduced initial resistance and stable conductivity under stretching, as well as resistance to biofluid-induced corrosion, enabling effective use in wearable technologies with improved mechanical durability and bio-compatibility.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrophilic polyurethane acrylate elastomer is used, which is treated with a mild aqueous solution containing chloride salts and organic acids to enhance conductivity and durability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical treatment with chloride salts and organic acids:

Implementation Method 2

a polymeric silver electrode wire attached to the surface of the flexible textile substrate, the electrode wire comprising: an elastomeric material; and silver flakes homogeneously distributed throughout the elastomeric material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHomogeneous distribution of silver flakes in elastomeric material: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

a hydrophilic polyurethane acrylate elastomer is used, which is treated with a mild aqueous solution containing chloride salts and organic acids to enhance conductivity and durability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic property: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentUS20230374330A1Conductive electronic textiles

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 NANYANG TECH UNIV

AI summary

Disclosed herein are a flexible textile-based silver electrode and a sweat-activated battery. Also disclosed herein is a method of making the flexible textile-based silver electrode by providing a composite material comprising a flexible textile substrate and a polymeric silver electrode wire, and bringing the composite material into contact with an aqueous solution comprising a non-toxic chloride salt and an organic acid for a period of time, wherein the electrode wire comprising an elastomeric material and silver flakes homogeneously distributed throughout the elastomeric material.