Stretchable Silver Nanowire Electrode With Embedded Adhesion Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices face challenges with sensing electrodes that are prone to cracking or fracturing due to large stretching deformations, as existing methods for incorporating silver nanowires into soft substrates like PDMS result in poor adhesion and instability under external forces.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable composite electrode is developed with a polymer film having a Young's modulus between 1.25 MPa and 3 MPa, featuring a silver nanowire layer partially embedded within, which is formed by coating a silver nanowire solution on a carrier, allowing the coating to penetrate and cure, and then removing the carrier, with surface plasma treatment enhancing adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If silver nanowire solution is coated on soft substrate like PDMS, then the electrode can be stretchable, but the adhesion is poor and the silver nanowire layer cannot be stably formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface plasma treatment to the PDMS substrate before coating the silver nanowire solution. This preliminary action modifies the surface properties of the substrate, creating better adhesion conditions for the silver nanowires. The plasma treatment introduces polar groups and increases surface energy, which prevents the silver nanowire solution from condensing into droplets and ensures stable layer formation while maintaining the stretchability of the soft substrate.
2Reliability
If silver nanowire layer is formed on PDMS substrate surface, then adhesion is improved by surface treatment, but the silver nanowire layer is still prone to breaking or peeling off when stretched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the silver nanowire layer partially into the PDMS substrate rather than just coating it on the surface. The silver nanowires are incorporated into the bulk of the polymer matrix, creating a nested structure where the conductive layer is integrated within the stretchable substrate. This embedding approach ensures that when the substrate is stretched, the silver nanowires move and deform together with the substrate, preventing breaking or peeling off and maintaining mechanical integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining silver nanowires with the PDMS polymer matrix. The silver nanowire layer is not merely surface-coated but is integrated into the polymer bulk, forming a composite material where the metallic nanowires provide electrical conductivity while the polymer provides mechanical flexibility and stretchability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between adhesion and mechanical integrity under stretching.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional coating method is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the silver nanowire layer cannot withstand large stretching deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the simplicity of the coating process while improving stretchability by embedding the silver nanowire layer into the PDMS substrate. The manufacturing process still involves coating the silver nanowire solution onto the substrate, but the key difference is that the substrate material itself (PDMS) allows the nanowires to be partially embedded during or after coating. This embedding occurs through the interaction between the nanowire solution and the polymer matrix, achieving integration without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
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 provides a stable and durable silver nanowire layer that maintains electrical conductivity and resistance recovery up to 98% even after significant stretching, preventing local cracks and fractures, thus enabling reliable application in wearable electronics.
Implementation Method 1
allowing a portion of the coating to penetrate into the silver nanowire layer
Implementation Method 2
it is mentioned in China patent of publication patent number CN112428699B that by using plasma to treat the surface of the PDMS substrate, the adhesion between the PDMS substrate and the silver nanowire is increased
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a stretchable composite electrode and a fabricating method thereof, and particularly relates to a stretchable composite electrode including a silver nanowire layer and a flexible polymer film and a fabricating method thereof.