Anomalous Stretchable Conductivity Using an Engineered Tricot Weave.
Robust electric conduction under stretching motions is a key element in upcoming wearable electronic devices but is fundamentally very difficult to achieve because percolation pathways in conductive media are subject to collapse upon stretching. Here, we report that this fundamental challenge can be overcome by using a parameter uniquely available in textiles, namely a weaving structure. A textile structure alternately interwoven with inelastic and elastic yarns, achieved via a tricot weave, possesses excellent elasticity (strain up to 200%) in diagonal directions. When this textile is coated with conductive nanomaterials, proper textile engineering allows the textile to obtain an unprecedented 7-fold conductivity increase, with conductivity reaching 33,000 S cm(-1), even at 130% strain, due to enhanced interyarn contacts. The observed stretching conductivity can be described well using a modified 3D percolation theory that reflects the weaving effect and is also utilized for stretchable electronic interconnects and supercapacitors with high performance.
Yong-Hee
YH
Lee
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136, United States.
Yoonseob
Y
Kim
Tae-Ik
TI
Lee
Inhwa
I
Lee
Jaeho
J
Shin
Kolon Corporation , Kolon-ro 11, Gwacheon, Kyeonggi 427-709, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Soo
HS
Lee
Taek-Soo
TS
Kim
Jang Wook
JW
Choi
modified 3D percolation theory; stretchable conductivity; textile engineering; tricot weave; wearable electronics