Stretchable Conductive Dry Adhesive Patch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current conductive adhesive patches struggle to simultaneously achieve flexibility, elasticity, electrical conductivity, and adhesive durability, making them unsuitable for wearable devices that require these combined characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A biomimetic highly stretchable conductive dry adhesive patch is manufactured using a conductive polymer composite with mixed conductive fillers and a gecko-inspired micropillar structure, which combines elastic material and conductive fillers to create a conductive network, allowing for adhesion without chemical adhesives and providing electrical conductivity and adhesion force in a single structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conductive adhesive materials are used, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but flexibility and elasticity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of an elastomer matrix combined with conductive fillers (carbon nanotubes, graphene, or metal particles). This composite structure allows the material to exhibit both the flexibility and elasticity of the elastomer while maintaining electrical conductivity through the dispersed conductive fillers, thereby resolving the contradiction between conductivity and mechanical flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local conductive networks within the elastomer matrix by dispersing conductive fillers throughout the material. This local quality approach allows different regions of the material to have different properties: the elastomer matrix provides flexibility and elasticity, while the conductive filler networks provide electrical conductivity, thus resolving the contradiction between these properties.
2Force
If conventional adhesive materials are used, then adhesive properties are achieved, but adhesive durability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adhesive interface into multiple micropillar structures with spatula-shaped tips. This segmentation increases the total contact area and allows the adhesive force to be distributed across many individual contact points, improving both the magnitude of adhesive force and its durability over time and through repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar adhesive surface to a three-dimensional micropillar structure. The spatula-shaped tips of the micropillars engage with the substrate in a manner that increases contact area and mechanical interlocking, thereby enhancing both adhesive force and durability without relying on chemical adhesives.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stretchable materials are used, then flexibility is improved, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous electrical conductivity during stretching by creating an interconnected network of conductive fillers within the elastomer matrix. This continuous conductive pathway maintains electrical functionality even as the material deforms and stretches, resolving the contradiction between stretchability and conductivity maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastomer matrix to accommodate parameter changes during stretching while the conductive filler network adapts its configuration to maintain conductivity. The material's ability to change shape and the conductive network's ability to reconfigure during deformation allow both stretchability and continuous conductivity to coexist.
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 patch achieves excellent adhesion, durability, and electrical conductivity, maintaining performance even after repeated use and exposure to water, making it suitable for wearable devices without causing skin irritation or leaving residues.
Implementation Method 1
The mixed conductive fillers are formed by mixing one-dimensional conductive fillers and two-dimensional conductive fillers, and are dispersed in the elastic structure to form a conductive network
Implementation Method 2
A conductive dry adhesive structure including a plurality of micropillars corresponding to the plurality of holes is obtained... Each of the plurality of micropillars includes a body portion and a tip portion. The tip portion has a spatula shape, is formed on the body portion, and has an area larger than that of the body portion in a plan view
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of manufacturing a biomimetic highly stretchable conductive dry adhesive patch, a mold including a plurality of holes is provided by etching a semiconductor substrate including an insulation layer based on a footing effect. A conductive polymer composite is provided by dispersing mixed conductive fillers in a liquid elastomer. The mixed conductive fillers are formed by mixing one-dimensional conductive fillers and two-dimensional conductive fillers. The conductive polymer composite is applied on the mold such that the conductive polymer composite is injected into the plurality of holes. A conductive dry adhesive structure including a plurality of micropillars corresponding to the plurality of holes is obtained by performing a post-treatment on the conductive polymer composite applied on the mold and by removing the mold. Each of the plurality of micropillars includes a body portion and a tip portion. The tip portion has a spatula shape, is formed on the body portion, and has an area larger than that of the body portion in a plan view.