Electro-Mechanical Response of Stretchable PDMS Composites With a Hybrid Filler System

Abstract

With the technological development of wearable devices, there are increasing demands for stretchable conductor that have stable electro-mechanical performance. In this study, a stretchable PDMS composite electrodes using ternary systems of fillers consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) / carbon nanotube (CNT) / silver nanowire (AgNW) is explored in a perspective of electro-mechanical response. PDMS matrix is mixed with binary fillers of CNT and PEDOT:PSS, which is followed by AgNW peeling-off process. The PDMS composite is mechanically reliable especially under tensile deformation, which showed a high rupture strain of ~102 % and tensile strength of ~2.7 MPa. In addition, the PDMS composites shows the stable electro-mechanical response, where high electrical conductivity is sustained even under stretchable conditions, showing an electrical resistance value of ~11.7 Ω/cm under 40% of strain. As a demonstration, a supercapacitor using the PDMS composites is demonstrated that shows reliable electrochemical performance.

Dispersion Stability of Carbon Nanotubes and Their Impact on Energy Storage Devices

“…Supercapacitors are electrochemical devices that store and release energy through the reversible adsorption and desorption of electrolyte ions on electrode surfaces [5,35,36]. They offer high power density, fast charge/discharge rates, and a long cycle life.…”

“…To achieve this goal, innovative materials and technologies are being explored and developed [3,4]. Among them, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding properties at the nanoscale [5][6][7][8]. CNTs are one-dimensional nanostructures composed of rolled up graphene sheets (Figure 1), which endow them with extraordinary electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal properties [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

Introductory Overview of Layer Formation Techniques of Ag Nanowires on Flexible Polymeric Substrates

“…As a result, there is increasing demand for electronic components that offer not only high performance but also environmental sustainability. In this context, Ag nanowires have emerged as a promising alternative owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, inherent flexibility, and outstanding transparency [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17], which makes them a leading choice for nextgeneration electronics such as flexible displays and wearable devices [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of Ag nanowires (Figure 1) [26].…”

Review of the Versatile Patterning Methods of Ag Nanowire Electrodes

“…As alternatives to ITO, therefore, carbon-based materials such as graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), or metal-based networks such as metal meshes or metal nanowires, are actively being studied for transparent electrodes [13][14][15]. In particular, Ag nanowire networks have shown superior properties, especially in optical transmittance and electrical conductivity [16][17][18][19][20][21]. In addition, the synthesis of Ag nanowires is easy and mass-producible, which is suitable for industry.…”