Stable Stretchable Silver Electrode Directly Deposited on Wavy Elastomeric Substrate

Abstract

We demonstrated a stable operation of stretchable silver (Ag) electrodes under fast cycling strain stress conditions. Relatively thick Ag electrodes (700 nm) were directly deposited on an elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate with vertical wavy patterns that were formed by using an aluminum mold. The large surface roughness of PDMS substrate that was transferred from an intentionally roughened mold surface enhanced the adhesion between thick electrode and PDMS layer. Top PDMS layer was coated on the Ag electrode for encasement. During a slow stretching test (16.7 mum/s), the resistance of the Ag electrode on the wavy substrate was increased only by three times for 50% tensile strain. The change in Ag electrode resistance was monitored during 10 000 times of fast (1 mm/s) cycling of 10% tensile strain. The maximum resistance was increased by less than five times during the stress test and returned to its initial value after the stress was removed.