The electronics consists of a mesh of silver nanowires that can be printed in suspension and embedded in various flexible and transparent plastics (polymers). This technology can enable new applications such as printable light-emitting diodes, solar cells or tools with integrated circuits, according to the researchers who are demonstrating the potential of their process with a flexible capacitor, among other things.
"The aim of this study was to functionalise 3D-printable polymers for different applications," says Professor Michael Rübhausen from the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), a cooperation between DESY, the University of Hamburg and the Max Planck Society. "With our novel approach, we want to integrate electronics into existing structural units and improve components in terms of space and weight."
Using the bright X-ray light from DESY's research light source PETRA III and other measuring methods, the team say they have managed to precisely analyse the properties of the nanowires in the polymer.
"At the heart of the technology are silver nanowires, which form a conductive mesh," explains Tomke Glier from the University of Hamburg. The silver wires are typically several tens of nanometers thick and 10 to 20 micrometers long. The detailed X-ray analysis shows that the structure of the nanowires in the polymer is not changed, but that the conductivity of the mesh even improves thanks to the compression by the polymer, as the polymer contracts during the curing process.
The silver nanowires are applied to a substrate in suspension and dried. "For cost reasons, the aim is to achieve the highest possible conductivity with as few nanowires as possible. This also increases the transparency of the material," explains DESY researcher, Professor Stephan Roth. "In this way, layer by layer, a conductive path or surface can be produced." A flexible polymer is applied to the conductive tracks, which in turn can be covered with conductive tracks and contacts. Depending on the geometry and material used, various electronic components can be printed in this way.
In this paper, the researchers produced a flexible capacitor. "In the laboratory, we carried out the individual work steps in a layering process, but in practice they can later be completely transferred to a 3D printer," explains Glier. "However, the further development of conventional 3D printing technology, which is usually optimised for individual printing inks, is also essential for this. In inkjet-based processes, the print nozzles could be clogged by the nanostructures," notes Prof. Rübhausen.
In the next step, the researchers now want to test how the structure of the conductive paths made of nanowires changes under mechanical stress. "How well does the wire mesh hold together during bending? How stable does the polymer remain," said Prof. Roth, referring to typical questions. "X-ray investigation is very suitable for this because it is the only way we can look into the material and analyse the conductive paths and surfaces of the nanowires."