Flexible Composites: Carbon Nanotube Fiber Based Stretchable Conductor (Adv. Funct. Mater. 7/2013)

Abstract

Stretchable conductors based on buckled carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are fabricated using a simple prestraining-then-buckling approach. The primary deformation mode of the CNT fibers is lateral kinking. This buckling shape is quite different from the sinusoidal shape observed previously in systems that are otherwise similar. As reported by Tsu-Wei Chou and co-workers on page 789, the prepared CNT fiber/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) composite film shows excellent stability and repeatability in performance as a stretchable conductor.