Communications of the ACM
New Technique Allows Printing of Flexible, Stretchable Silver Nanowire Circuits
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a technique that allows them to print circuits on flexible, stretchable substrates using silver nanowires.
Credit: NC State News
Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed a new technique that enables them to print circuits on flexible, stretchable substrates using silver nanowires, which makes it possible to integrate the material into a wide array of electronic devices.
The new approach uses electrohydrodynamic printing, which relies on electrostatic force to eject the ink from the nozzle and draw it to the appropriate site on the substrate, says NC State professor Jingyan Dong.
In addition, the new "ink" consists of a solvent containing silver nanowires that are typically more than 20 micrometers long, resulting in circuits that have the desired conductivity, flexibility, and stretchability. The solvent is both nontoxic and water-soluble, meaning that once the circuit is printed, the solvent can simply be washed off.
The researchers used the new technique to create prototypes that utilize the nanowire circuits, including a globe with an internal heater and a wearable electrode for use in electrocardiography.
From NC State News
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