Curving silver nanowires using liquid droplets for highly stretchable and durable percolation networks

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Silver nanowires (Ag NWs) are key components for stretchable electrodes.
• Mechanical fracture of Ag NWs at low strains limits electrode performance.
• Existing methods for stretchable electrodes often involve complex processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, scalable method for fabricating high-performance Ag NW-based stretchable electrodes.
• To engineer the structure of Ag NWs to improve their electromechanical stability and stretchability.
• To investigate the role of elasto-capillary interactions in Ag NW assembly.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a conventional spray coating process to deposit Ag NWs.
• Observed the formation of curved Ag NW shapes within liquid droplets due to elasto-capillary interactions.
• Created percolation networks of Ag NW rings directly on substrates.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated Ag NW rings via spray coating without complex post-processing.
• Demonstrated that the curved structure of Ag NW rings effectively releases tensile strain.
• Achieved excellent electromechanical stability and high stretchability in the fabricated electrodes.
• Showcased a low-cost, scalable route for producing advanced stretchable electrodes.

Conclusions:

• The elasto-capillary interaction during spray coating enables the formation of Ag NW rings.
• Ag NW ring networks offer superior strain release, leading to enhanced stretchability and durability.
• This approach provides a versatile platform for engineering NW structures for diverse applications.