Abstract
Soft electronic devices that are bendable and stretchable require stretchable electric or electronic components. Nanostructured conducting materials or soft conducting polymers are one of the most promising fillers to achieve high performance and durability. Here, we report silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) synthesized in aqueous solutions at room temperature, using NaBH4 as a reducing agent in the presence of highly oxidized SWCNTs as efficient nucleation agents. Elastic composite films composed of the AgNPs-embedded SWCNTs, Ag flake, and polydimethylsiloxane are irradiated with radiation from a Xenon flash lamp within a time interval of one second for efficient sintering of conductive fillers. Under high irradiation energy, the stretchable electrodes are created with a maximum conductivity of 4,907 S cm−1 and a highly stretchable stability of over 10,000 cycles under a 20% strain. Moreover, under a low irradiation energy, strain sensors with a gauge factor of 76 under a 20% strain and 5.4 under a 5% strain are fabricated. For practical demonstration, the fabricated stretchable electrode and strain sensor are attached to a human finger for detecting the motions of the finger.
Highlights
Soft electronic devices that are bendable and stretchable require stretchable electric or electronic components
Fuming nitric acid was purchased from Tokyo Chemical Industry, and NaClO3, HCl and H2O2 were purchased from Samchun Chemicals. AgNO3 powder was obtained from Daejung. NaBH4 powder was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich and used without any further treatment for the oxidation and synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and ox-SWCNT/Ag NP
Silver nanostructures were systematically modulated by using SWCNTs that were highly oxidized by chlorate-based oxidation
Summary
Soft electronic devices that are bendable and stretchable require stretchable electric or electronic components. We report silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) synthesized in aqueous solutions at room temperature, using NaBH4 as a reducing agent in the presence of highly oxidized SWCNTs as efficient nucleation agents. A bottom-up approach method for the synthesis of CNT embedded metal particles had not been reported This was because of the lack of an efficient oxidation method without the detrimental cutting for CNT surfaces that have a high content of oxidative functional groups. To achieve suitability for applications in stretchable electrodes and strain sensors, the electrical conductivity, mechanical stability, and sensitivity of the composite films were rationally controlled by varying the conducting filler contents and the radiation energy from a Xenon flash lamp
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