Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used as the substrate for wearable sensors and elastomeric actuators because of its good dielectric property, stretchability, thermal/chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and transparency. PDMS-based stretchable sensors and electroactive actuators need a coati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173651 |
| _version_ | 1826118586074136576 |
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| author | Shrestha, Milan Depari, Leonardus Shakerzadeh, Maziar Shivakumar, Ranjana Teo, Edwin Hang Tong |
| author2 | School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| author_facet | School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Shrestha, Milan Depari, Leonardus Shakerzadeh, Maziar Shivakumar, Ranjana Teo, Edwin Hang Tong |
| author_sort | Shrestha, Milan |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used as the substrate for wearable sensors and elastomeric actuators because of its good dielectric property, stretchability, thermal/chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and transparency. PDMS-based stretchable sensors and electroactive actuators need a coating of thin compliant electrodes. However, PDMS is hydrophobic with water contact angle above 120°. Such low surface energy of PDMS creates issues for uniform coating of ink-based electrodes and/or their adhesion. Similarly, metal thin-film or nanowire-based materials coated on PDMS easily peels off. Surface treatments like UV/plasma exposure can temporarily increase PDMS's surface energy. However, these surfaces return to its original state within hours leaving behind a brittle surface layer that cracks upon stretching. To address these issues, we formulated a viscous composite ink with PEDOT:PSS and PDMS that can easily be coated on untreated PDMS by blade casting, screen printing, and so on. These coatings are highly transparent, stretchable, electrically conductive and work as compliant electrodes. We fabricated transparent dielectric elastomer actuators by coating PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composite ink on Elastosil (PDMS) substrates. The actuation strain and breakdown-fields were slightly lower compared to DEA with conventional graphite electrodes. However, the additional self-clearing capability of PEDOT:PSS/PDMS electrodes enhanced robustness of the DEA in events of localized dielectric breakdown. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:45:54Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/173651 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:45:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1736512024-02-23T15:40:07Z Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface Shrestha, Milan Depari, Leonardus Shakerzadeh, Maziar Shivakumar, Ranjana Teo, Edwin Hang Tong School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering School of Materials Science and Engineering Continental-NTU Corporate Lab Temasek Laboratories @ NTU Engineering Printable conductive ink Complaint electrode Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used as the substrate for wearable sensors and elastomeric actuators because of its good dielectric property, stretchability, thermal/chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and transparency. PDMS-based stretchable sensors and electroactive actuators need a coating of thin compliant electrodes. However, PDMS is hydrophobic with water contact angle above 120°. Such low surface energy of PDMS creates issues for uniform coating of ink-based electrodes and/or their adhesion. Similarly, metal thin-film or nanowire-based materials coated on PDMS easily peels off. Surface treatments like UV/plasma exposure can temporarily increase PDMS's surface energy. However, these surfaces return to its original state within hours leaving behind a brittle surface layer that cracks upon stretching. To address these issues, we formulated a viscous composite ink with PEDOT:PSS and PDMS that can easily be coated on untreated PDMS by blade casting, screen printing, and so on. These coatings are highly transparent, stretchable, electrically conductive and work as compliant electrodes. We fabricated transparent dielectric elastomer actuators by coating PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composite ink on Elastosil (PDMS) substrates. The actuation strain and breakdown-fields were slightly lower compared to DEA with conventional graphite electrodes. However, the additional self-clearing capability of PEDOT:PSS/PDMS electrodes enhanced robustness of the DEA in events of localized dielectric breakdown. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Published version This study is supported under the RIE2020 Industry Alignment Fund – Industry Collaboration Projects (IAF-ICP) Funding Initiative, as well as cash and in-kind contribution from the industry partner(s). 2024-02-21T01:00:20Z 2024-02-21T01:00:20Z 2023 Journal Article Shrestha, M., Depari, L., Shakerzadeh, M., Shivakumar, R. & Teo, E. H. T. (2023). Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface. Sensors and Actuators Reports, 5, 100162-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snr.2023.100162 2666-0539 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173651 10.1016/j.snr.2023.100162 2-s2.0-85160005351 5 100162 en Sensors and Actuators Reports © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/). application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Engineering Printable conductive ink Complaint electrode Shrestha, Milan Depari, Leonardus Shakerzadeh, Maziar Shivakumar, Ranjana Teo, Edwin Hang Tong Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title | Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title_full | Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title_fullStr | Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title_short | Ink-based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic PDMS surface |
| title_sort | ink based transparent compliant electrode for direct coating on untreated hydrophobic pdms surface |
| topic | Engineering Printable conductive ink Complaint electrode |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/173651 |
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