title: Sprayable elastic conductors based on block copolymer silver nanoparticle composites.
abstract: Block copolymer silver nanoparticle composite elastic conductors were fabricated through solution blow spinning and subsequent nanoparticle nucleation. The reported technique allows for conformal deposition onto nonplanar substrates. We additionally demonstrated the ability to tune the strain dependence of the electrical properties by adjusting nanoparticle precursor concentration or localized nanoparticle nucleation. The stretchable fiber mats were able to display electrical conductivity values as high as 2000 ± 200 S/cm with only a 12% increase in resistance after 400 cycles of 150% strain. Stretchable elastic conductors with similar and higher bulk conductivity have not achieved comparable stability of electrical properties. These unique electromechanical characteristics are primarily the result of structural changes during mechanical deformation. The versatility of this approach was demonstrated by constructing a stretchable light emitting diode circuit and a strain sensor on planar and nonplanar substrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering and ‡Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Omar B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Ayyub
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kofinas
mesh_terms: D002070:Butadienes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010420:Pentanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D010420:Pentanes; D011137:Polystyrenes; C522518:polystyrene-block-polyisoprene; D012834:Silver
keywords: block copolymer composite; flexible electronics; nanocomposite; solution blow spinning; stretchable conductor