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Related Concept Videos

Electrical Conductivity01:13

Electrical Conductivity

In perfect conductors, the electric field inside is always zero due to the abundance of free electrons, which nullify any field by flowing. As a result, any residual charge resides on the surface.
In a practical conductor, an applied electric field may be sustained, causing a flow of electrons, which produce a current. The differential form of the current, the current density, is related to the electric field.
More generally, it is related to the force per unit charge, which involves the...
Ionic Association01:28

Ionic Association

The ionic association is the association of oppositely charged ions in an electrolyte solution to form ion pairs. Bjerrum defined ion pairs as two oppositely charged ions whose electrostatic attraction exceeds the thermal energy of the system, typically expressed as 2kT. Electrostatic attraction depends on ionic charge, separation distance, and the dielectric constant of the medium. Thermal energy, represented by kT, reflects the tendency of ions to move independently due to molecular motion.
Molecular and Ionic Solids02:54

Molecular and Ionic Solids

Crystalline solids are divided into four types: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent network based on the type of constituent units and their interparticle interactions.
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Semiconductors01:22

Semiconductors

There is variation in the electrical conductivity of materials - metals, semiconductors, and insulators that are showcased with the help of the energy band diagrams.
Metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or lead (Pb) have low resistivity and feature conduction bands that are either not fully occupied or overlap with the valence band, making a bandgap non-existent. This allows electrons in the highest energy levels of the valence band to easily transition to the conduction band upon gaining...
Bonding in Metals02:32

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”.
Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer02:48

Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer

Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence shell, and an anion (a negative ion) forms when a neutral atom gains one or more electrons in its valence shell. Compounds composed of ions are called ionic compounds (or salts), and their constituent ions are held together by ionic bonds: electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged cations and anions.

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Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh
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Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh

Published on: June 23, 2017

Stretchable, transparent, ionic conductors.

Christoph Keplinger1, Jeong-Yun Sun, Choon Chiang Foo

  • 1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 31, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed highly stretchable and transparent ionic conductors for advanced electronics. These materials enable new transparent actuators and loudspeakers, overcoming limitations of current electronic conductors for soft machines.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Soft Robotics
  • Optoelectronics

Background:

  • Current stretchable, transparent conductors are primarily electronic, limiting applications in stretchable electronics and soft machines.
  • Existing electronic conductors face performance constraints in components like interconnects, sensors, and actuators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel class of ionic conductors for highly stretchable and transparent electronic components.
  • To demonstrate the potential of these ionic conductors in advanced applications such as transparent actuators and loudspeakers.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication and characterization of highly stretchable and transparent ionic conductors.
  • Integration of ionic conductors into device prototypes, including actuators and loudspeakers.
  • Testing of device performance under various conditions, including high frequency and voltage operation.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated ionic conductors that are highly stretchable and fully transparent across the visible spectrum.
  • Achieved device operation at frequencies >10 kHz and voltages >10 kV without electrochemical reactions.
  • Developed a transparent actuator with large strain capabilities and a transparent loudspeaker covering the full audible range.

Conclusions:

  • Ionic conductors offer a viable alternative to electronic conductors for applications demanding high stretchability and transparency.
  • These novel materials enable the development of advanced, high-performance transparent soft machines and electronic devices.
  • The demonstrated electromechanical transduction without electrochemical reaction opens new avenues for device design.