Abstract
Multiple and complex functionalities are a demand nowadays for almost all materials, including common day-to-day materials such as paper, textiles, wood, etc. In the present report, the surface temperature control of different types of materials, including paper and textiles, was demonstrated by Joule heating of metallic-web transparent electrodes both by direct current and by RF induced eddy currents. Polymeric submicronic fiber webs were prepared by electrospinning, and metal sputtering was subsequently performed to transform them into flexible transparent electrodes. These electrodes were thermally attached to different substrates, including paper, textiles and glass. Using thermochromic inks, we demonstrated a high degree of control of the substrates’ surface temperature by means of the Joule effect. Metallic fiber webs appear to be excellently suited for use as transparent electrodes for controlling the surface temperature of common materials, their highly flexible nature being a major advantage when dealing with rough, bendable substrates. This kind of result could not be achieved on bendable substrates with rough surfaces such as paper or textiles while employing classical transparent electrodes i.e. metal oxides. Moreover, contactless heating with induced currents is a premiere for transparent electrodes and opens up a score of new application fields.
Highlights
Thermochromism is an effect that can be exploited in a straightforward manner for the purpose of developing particular new applications such as cheap reflective display devices, lithographical techniques being already used to design electrodes capable of controlling heating on a local, well-defined scale and on low cost substrates[17,24]
We demonstrate the possibility of controlling the superficial temperature of a substrate by means of a thin, transparent, metallic fibers web electrode via the Joule effect
The method was employed to demonstrate thermochromic transitions in commercial inks on common substrates such as paper and fabrics, this simple technique could be adapted for developing a wide range of applications
Summary
The measurements prove that a large proportion of the thermal conductivity of the composite materials in the specific arrangement is related to heat transport through the metallic web cover for both paper and textile substrates. This information is extremely important for eventual applications showing that one may use metal web electrodes for controlling the surface. When a low voltage is applied to the metal layer covering the polymer fiber network, the temperature increases by resistive heating and the color of the thermochromic ink gradually changes, as shown in the images in the second column. As it was the case with the direct contact the sample was able to support multiple on/off cycles without any apparent damage
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