Communications of the ACM
Researchers Create Highly Conductive and Elastic Conductors Using Silver Nanowires
North Carolina State University researchers have developed highly conductive and elastic conductors made from silver nanoscale wires, which they say can be used to produce stretchable electronic devices
Credit: North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers have developed highly conductive and elastic conductors made from silver nanoscale wires, which they say can be used to produce stretchable electronic devices.
The researchers embedded highly conductive silver nanowires in a polymer that can withstand significant stretching without adversely affecting the material's conductivity. "In addition, our work focuses on high and stable conductivity under a large degree of deformation, complementary to most other work using silver nanowires that are more concerned with flexibility and transparency," says NCSU professor Yong Zhu.
The material can be stretched up to 50 percent of its elongation without affecting the conductivity of the silver nanowires. "In addition to having high conductivity and a large stable strain range, the new stretchable conductors show excellent robustness under repeated mechanical loading," Zhu says.
Potential applications of stretchable circuitry include an electronic skin that helps robots pick up delicate objects without breaking them, and stretchable displays and antennas that make cell phones and other electronic devices stretch and compress without impacting their performance.
From NCSU News
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