Ag Nanowire-Based Stretchable Electrodes and Wearable\nSensor Arrays

Abstract

Attributed\nto excellent mechanical compatibility with the human\nbody and thus favorable comfortability and good integrability, stretchable\nconductors and functional conductive patterns have been one of the\nmost important components in wearable electronic devices. However,\ndue to poor compatibility between stretchability and conductivity\nin most material system, the simple, fast, and low-cost fabrication\nof a stretchable conductor, especially conductive patterns, has been\na problem to address in this field. In this paper, we propose a flexible\nand robust laser ablation method in combination with a two-step film\ntransfer process for the fabrication of stretchable silver nanowire\n(AgNW)-based conductive patterns. In this method, three critical steps\nwere involved for the optimized properties. First, a simple one-pot\nsolvothermal method was developed for scalable synthesis of high-quality\nAgNWs; second, a reliable film transfer method was proposed to ensure\ncomplete replication of the properties of the AgNW film; third, a\ndigital laser ablation technique was employed for the selective removal\nof the AgNW layer. Finally, stretchable transparent conductive electrodes,\ncircuits, and functional patterns were fabricated. As a proof-of-concept\ndemonstration, a wearable sensor and multipixel capacitive sensor\narrays were prepared and showed good and reliable performance under\nvarious deformations, indicating the proposed method is available\nfor the fabrication of various stretchable conductive patterns.