Electrically conductive materials that are both transparent and stretchable are required for a number of potential applications. The main challenge is the generally conflicting material requirements for mechanical compliance and electrical conductivity. We will present the fabrication of highly conductive and stretchable composite electrodes comprising silver nanowires embedded in the surface layer of a poly(acrylate) matrix. The addition of acrylic acid enhances the adhesion between silver nanowires and the polymer substrate, and improves the stretchability of the composite electrodes. The sheet resistance of the composite electrodes increases by only 2.3 times at 50% strain. Repeated stretching to 50% strain and relaxation only cause a small increase of the sheet resistance after 600 cycles. The composite electrodes are suitable as a stretchable and transparent electrode in stretchable thin film electronic devices.

Intrinsically stretchable transparent electrodes based on silver nanowire composites

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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