Selective Light-Induced Patterning of Carbon Nanotube/Silver Nanoparticle Composite To Produce Extremely Flexible Conductive Electrodes.
Recently, highly flexible conductive features have been widely demanded for the development of various electronic applications, such as foldable displays, deformable lighting, disposable sensors, and flexible batteries. Herein, we report for the first time a selective photonic sintering-derived, highly reliable patterning approach for creating extremely flexible carbon nanotube (CNT)/silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) composite electrodes that can tolerate severe bending (20 000 cycles at a bending radius of 1 mm). The incorporation of CNTs into a Ag NP film can enhance not only the mechanical stability of electrodes but also the photonic-sintering efficiency when the composite is irradiated by intense pulsed light (IPL). Composite electrodes were patterned on various plastic substrates by a three-step process comprising coating, selective IPL irradiation, and wiping. A composite film selectively exposed to IPL could not be easily wiped from the substrate, because interfusion induced strong adhesion to the underlying polymer substrate. In contrast, a nonirradiated film adhered weakly to the substrate and was easily removed, enabling highly flexible patterned electrodes. The potential of our flexible electrode patterns was clearly demonstrated by fabricating a light-emitting diode circuit and a flexible transparent heater with unimpaired functionality under bending, rolling, and folding.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University , Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
Inhyuk
I
Kim
Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Kyoohee
K
Woo
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University , Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.|Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Zhaoyang
Z
Zhong
Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Eonseok
E
Lee
Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Dongwoo
D
Kang
Division of Advanced Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology , Daejeon 305-600, Republic of Korea.
Sunho
S
Jeong
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ajou University , Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16490, Republic of Korea.
Young-Man
YM
Choi
Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Yunseok
Y
Jang
Advanced Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials , Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Sin
S
Kwon
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University , Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
Jooho
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6685-9999
J
Moon
Ag nanoparticle; carbon nanotube; composite; flexible conductive electrode; intense pulsed light irradiation; patterning