Preparation of PVDF/PVP blend polymer nanofiber films and application on screen-printed flexible electrodes

Abstract

The preparation of three electrodes (working electrode, counter electrode, reference electrode) on soft, deformable, and breathable film substrates with good adhesion is a novel approach for the development of wearable devices for plants. In this study, the adsorption energy of carbon paste, graphite, and a polymer was calculated via molecular dynamics simulations, and the optimal polymer ratio was selected for the preparation of nanofiber films. Electrospinning technology was used to prepare a breathable ultrathin polymer film, which was used as a flexible substrate for three electrodes, and a conductive carbon paste was patterned on the nanofiber film substrate by screen printing. The properties of the composite nanofiber membrane substrate and flexible screen-printing electrode were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), 3D profile scanning, and electrochemical experiments. The combination of electrospinning technology and screen-printing technology is a new path for the preparation of nondestructive and wearable detection devices.