Wash-stable, oxidation resistant conductive cotton electrodes for wearable electronics.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Wearable electronics require durable, conductive, and washable fabrics.
• Silver coatings offer conductivity but are prone to oxidation and degradation.
• Protective encapsulation is crucial for maintaining fabric functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel silver-coated cotton fabric with enhanced durability and water repellency.
• To evaluate the protective effect of poly(perfluorodecylacrylate) (PFDA) encapsulation on silver coatings.
• To demonstrate the fabric's suitability for wearable electronics and energy harvesting applications.

Main Methods:

• One-step electroless deposition of silver onto cotton fabric.
• Conformal encapsulation of silver coating with PFDA using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD).
• Surface resistance measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for oxidation analysis, and accelerated laundering tests (AATCC protocols).
• Fabrication and testing of a triboelectric generator using the modified fabric.

Main Results:

• PFDA-encapsulated silver-coated cotton exhibited water repellency and low surface resistance (0.2 Ω cm^-1).
• XPS confirmed PFDA encapsulation prevented silver oxidation, unlike unencapsulated samples.
• The encapsulated fabric withstood up to twenty home laundering cycles without significant degradation.
• A proof-of-concept triboelectric generator achieved voltage outputs as high as 25 V.

Conclusions:

• PFDA encapsulation provides effective protection for silver-coated cotton, enhancing its durability and washability.
• The developed material is a promising candidate for launderable wearable electronic applications.
• The fabric's performance in a triboelectric generator highlights its potential for flexible energy harvesting.