Breakthrough in 3D printing: elastic conductors for stretchable electronics
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The future of wearable technology just got a little bit more exciting, thanks to a breakthrough in 3D printing. Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have recently achieved a remarkable feat by successfully printing elastic components that can conduct electricity. This groundbreaking discovery, detailed in a paper published in Nature Electronics, opens up a world of possibilities for the creation of stretchable electronics on a large scale.
The key to this remarkable achievement lies in a special ink developed by the research team. Unlike traditional inks used in 3D printing, this emulsion-based composite ink consists of liquid components dispersed within a conductive elastomer. A conductive elastomer is a rubbery material that has the ability to conduct electricity.
This unique combination allows for printing solid-state elastic conductors with three-dimensional geometries. This used to be a major challenge in the past, but they successfully cracked the code.
The researchers explain that the ink's viscoelastic properties provide structural integrity to the printed features, enabling the creation of freestanding, filamentary, and out-of-plane three-dimensional structures. This means that complex shapes can now be directly printed, opening up a new world of design possibilities for stretchable electronics.
Stand-out features of the elastic conductors
One of the standout features of this composite ink is its ability to exhibit viscoelasticity, shear-thinning, and lubricating properties. These characteristics make it particularly suitable for printing complex 3D structures. With a minimum feature size of less than 100 μm and stretchability of over 150%, the printed structures using this ink are both precise and flexible.
To demonstrate the potential of their 3D printing approach, the researchers used the emulsion-based ink to create a wearable temperature sensor with a stretchable display. The device performed exceptionally well, showcasing the capabilities of this groundbreaking technology. This same method could soon be used to create a wide range of stretchable and conducting components for various applications.
"Printing solid-state elastic conductors with three-dimensional geometries is challenging because the rheological properties of existing inks typically only allow for layer-wise deposition," Byeongmoon Lee, Hyunjoo Cho, and their colleagues wrote in the paper.
"We show that an emulsion system—consisting of a conductive elastomer composite, immiscible solvent, and emulsifying solvent—can be used for the omnidirectional printing of elastic conductors."
The successful use of 3D printing to create elastic conductors marks a significant milestone in the field of wearable technology. With the potential for large-scale printing of multi-functional and stretchable components, we may soon see a new wave of wearable devices seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives. The future of stretchable electronics is looking incredibly promising.
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