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Published on: June 23, 2017
Multifunctional strain-activated liquid-metal composite films with electromechanical decoupling for stretchable
Jiali Chen1,2, Xuezhe Chen1,2, Yaozhuo Su1,2
1Ningbo Key Lab of Polymer Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang province, 315201, China. shenbin@nimte.ac.cn.
This study introduces a highly stretchable liquid metal/thermoplastic polyurethane composite film for advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The novel material maintains stable shielding effectiveness even under significant stretching, enabling new flexible electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Flexible electronics require advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials.
- Fabricating stretchable EMI shielding films with stable performance remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly stretchable and strain-insensitive EMI shielding film.
- To investigate the material's potential for Joule heating and strain sensing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a liquid metal/thermoplastic polyurethane (LM/TPU) composite film using scraping and pre-stretching.
- Characterization of tensile properties, electrical resistance, and EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) under various strain levels.
- Evaluation of Joule heating and strain sensing capabilities.
Main Results:
- The activated LM/TPU (ALMT) film exhibited excellent stretchability (>700% elongation at break).
- The film demonstrated strain-insensitive EMI shielding with SE up to ~60 dB, and enhanced SE/thickness values up to ~1200 dB mm⁻¹.
- The ALMT film showed efficient Joule heating and functioned as a strain sensor.
Conclusions:
- The developed ALMT film offers a promising solution for strain-insensitive EMI shielding in flexible electronics.
- Its multifunctional properties, including Joule heating and strain sensing, expand its application potential.
- The facile fabrication method allows for scalable production of advanced shielding materials.
