Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-26T16:24:19.224Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Design and operation of silver nanowire based flexible and stretchable touch sensors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2014

Zheng Cui
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
Felipe R. Poblete
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
Guangming Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
Shanshan Yao
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
Xiaoning Jiang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
Yong Zhu*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: yong_zhu@ncsu.edu
Get access

Abstract

In recent years wearable devices have attracted significant attention. Flexibility and stretchability are required for comfortable wear of such devices. In this paper, we report flexible and stretchable touch sensors with two different patterns (interdigitated and diamond-shaped capacitors). The touch sensors were made of screen-printed silver nanowire electrodes embedded in polydimethylsiloxane. For each pattern, the simulation-based design was conducted to choose optimal dimensions for the highest touch sensitivity. The sensor performances were characterized as-fabricated and under deformation (e.g., bending and stretching). While the interdigitated touch sensors were easier to fabricate, the diamond-shaped ones showed higher touch sensitivity under as-fabricated, stretching or even bending conditions. For both types of sensors, the touch sensitivity remained nearly constant under stretching up to 15%, but varied under bending. They also showed robust performances under cyclic loading and against oxidation.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Hecht, D.S., Thomas, D., Hu, L., Ladous, C., Lam, T., Park, Y., Irvin, G., and Drzaic, P.: Carbon-nanotube film on plastic as transparent electrode for resistive touch screens. J. Soc. Inf. Disp. 17(11), 941 (2009).Google Scholar
Hotelling, S.P. and Land, B.R.: Double-sided touch-sensitive panel with shield and drive combined layer. U.S. Patent No. 11/650,182, 2011.Google Scholar
Adler, R. and Desmares, P.J.: An economical touch panel using SAW absorption. IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 34(2), 195 (1987).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bae, S.H., Yu, B.C., Lee, S., Jang, H.U., Choi, J., Sohn, M., Ahn, I., Kang, I., and Chung, I.: 14.4: Integrating Multi-Touch Function with a Large-Sized LCD, SID Symp. Dig. of Tech. Pap. 39,(1), Los Angeles, CA, 178 (2008).Google Scholar
Barrett, G. and Omote, R.: Projected-capacitive touch technology. Inf. Disp. 26(3), 16 (2010).Google Scholar
Hecht, D.S., Hu, L., and Irvin, G.: Emerging transparent electrodes based on thin films of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metallic nanostructures. Adv. Mater. 23(13), 1482 (2011).Google Scholar
Zhang, J., Fu, Y., Wang, C., Chen, P-C., Liu, Z., Wei, W., Wu, C., Thompson, M.E., and Zhou, C.: Separated carbon nanotube macroelectronics for active matrix organic light-emitting diode displays. Nano Lett. 11(11), 4852 (2011).Google Scholar
Lipomi, D.J., Vosgueritchian, M., Tee, B.C., Hellstrom, S.L., Lee, J.A., Fox, C.H., and Bao, Z.: Skin-like pressure and strain sensors based on transparent elastic films of carbon nanotubes. Nat. Nanotechnol. 6(12), 788 (2011).Google Scholar
Wu, Z., Chen, Z., Du, X., Logan, J.M., Sippel, J., Nikolou, M., Kamaras, K., Reynolds, J.R., Tanner, D.B., and Hebard, A.F.: Transparent, conductive carbon nanotube films. Science 305(5688), 1273 (2004).Google Scholar
Tung, V.C., Allen, M.J., Yang, Y., and Kaner, R.B.: High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene. Nat. Nanotechnol. 4(1), 25 (2008).Google Scholar
Eda, G., Fanchini, G., and Chhowalla, M.: Large-area ultrathin films of reduced graphene oxide as a transparent and flexible electronic material. Nat. Nanotechnol. 3(5), 270 (2008).Google Scholar
Wu, J., Agrawal, M., Becerril, H.A., Bao, Z., Liu, Z., Chen, Y., and Peumans, P.: Organic light-emitting diodes on solution-processed graphene transparent electrodes. ACS Nano 4(1), 43 (2009).Google Scholar
Zang, J., Ryu, S., Pugno, N., Wang, Q., Tu, Q., Buehler, M.J., and Zhao, X.: Multifunctionality and control of the crumpling and unfolding of large-area graphene. Nat. Mater. 12(4), 321 (2013).Google Scholar
Hu, L., Kim, H.S., Lee, J-Y., Peumans, P., and Cui, Y.: Scalable coating and properties of transparent, flexible, silver nanowire electrodes. ACS Nano 4(5), 2955 (2010).Google Scholar
Wu, J., Zang, J., Rathmell, A.R., Zhao, X., and Wiley, B.J.: Reversible sliding in networks of nanowires. Nano Lett. 13(6), 2381 (2013).Google Scholar
Yu, Z., Zhang, Q., Li, L., Chen, Q., Niu, X., Liu, J., and Pei, Q.: Highly flexible silver nanowire electrodes for shape-memory polymer light-emitting diodes. Adv. Mater. 23(5), 664 (2011).Google Scholar
Kim, D-H., Lu, N., Huang, Y., and Rogers, J.A.: Materials for stretchable electronics in bioinspired and biointegrated devices. MRS Bull. 37(03), 226 (2012).Google Scholar
Lacour, S.P., Jones, J., Wagner, S., Li, T., and Suo, Z.: Stretchable interconnects for elastic electronic surfaces. Proc. IEEE 93(8), 1459 (2005).Google Scholar
Kaltenbrunner, M., Sekitani, T., Reeder, J., Yokota, T., Kuribara, K., Tokuhara, T., Drack, M., Schwödiauer, R., Graz, I., and Bauer-Gogonea, S.: An ultra-lightweight design for imperceptible plastic electronics. Nature 499(7459), 458 (2013).Google Scholar
Kim, D.H., Xiao, J., Song, J., Huang, Y., and Rogers, J.A.: Stretchable, curvilinear electronics based on inorganic materials. Adv. Mater. 22(19), 2108 (2010).Google Scholar
Yao, S. and Zhu, Y.: Wearable multifunctional sensors using printed stretchable conductors made of silver nanowires. Nanoscale 6(4), 2345 (2014).Google Scholar
Hu, W., Niu, X., Zhao, R., and Pei, Q.: Elastomeric transparent capacitive sensors based on an interpenetrating composite of silver nanowires and polyurethane. Appl. Phys. Lett. 102(8), 083303 (2013).Google Scholar
Cotton, D.P., Graz, I.M., and Lacour, S.P.: A multifunctional capacitive sensor for stretchable electronic skins. IEEE Sens. J. 9(12), 2008 (2009).Google Scholar
Kim, B.S., Hong, H.J., and Koo, C.K.: Electrode pattern of touch panel and forming method for the same. U.S. Patent No. Application 13/711,210, 2012.Google Scholar
Lee, J., Cole, M.T., Lai, J.C.S., and Nathan, A.: An analysis of electrode patterns in capacitive touch screen panels. J. Disp. Technol. 10(5), 362 (2014).Google Scholar
Hammer, H.: Analytical model for comb-capacitance fringe fields. J. Microelectromech. Syst. 19(1), 175 (2010).Google Scholar
Hwang, T-H., Cui, W-H., Yang, I-S., and Kwon, O-K.: A highly area-efficient controller for capacitive touch screen panel systems. IEEE Trans. Consum. Electron. 56(2), 1115 (2010).Google Scholar
Xu, F. and Zhu, Y.: Highly conductive and stretchable silver nanowire conductors. Adv. Mater. 24(37), 5117 (2012).Google Scholar
Song, L., Myers, A.C., Adams, J.J., Zhu, Y.: Stretchable, and reversibly deformable radio frequency antennas based on silver nanowires. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 6(6), 4248 (2014).Google Scholar
Zhang, X., Wong, W.N., and Yuen, M.M.: Conductive, transparent, flexible electrode from silver nanowire thin film with double layer structure. In Nanotechnology (IEEE-NANO), 2012 12th IEEE Conference on. Birmingham, UK, IEEE (2012).Google Scholar
Lee, W.J., Lee, M.Y., Roy, A.K., Lee, K.S., Park, S.Y., and In, I.: Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-protected silver nanowire network for transparent conductor with enhanced oxidation resistance and adhesion properties. Chem. Lett. 42(2), 191 (2013).Google Scholar
Kim, T., Kim, Y.W., Lee, H.S., Kim, H., Yang, W.S., and Suh, K.S.: Uniformly interconnected silver-nanowire networks for transparent film heaters. Adv. Funct. Mater. 23(10), 1250 (2013).Google Scholar