Docket #: S11-468
Process of Depositing Stretchable, Elastic, Transparent, and Conductive Carbon Nanotube Films on Silicone Substrates
Researchers from Stanford University have developed a novel method for generating stretchable, transparent, and conductive films. The creation of the film is a simple two step process. After spraying single-walled carbon nanotubes on a silicon substrate, the substrate can be stretched in different directions, thus causing the nanotubes to conform to a spring-like structure. Once this process is completed, these flexible films can accommodate strains of up to 150 percent and demonstrate conductivities of over 1000 Siemens/centimeter. This is the highest conductivity reported in the literature for a conductor that can be stretched over 100 percent. There are extensive pressure-sensing applications for this invention; it can be used as electronic skins for prosthetic limbs and on interactive displays.
| Chemical Engineering postdoctoral fellow Darren Lipomi demonstrates the stretchable, artificial skin in the lab. |
NPR "All Tech Considered" Feature
"Just Like Human Skin, This Plastic Sheet Can Sense And Heal", April 11, 2016
Applications
- Human-interactive, electronic skin for prosthetic limbs and artificial intelligence systems
- Solar modules that have curved surfaces
- Sensors
- Pressure/Touch Sensors for Interactive Displays
- Mechanical Sensors for biomedical devices
Advantages
- Simple
- Two-step process to create film
- Spray-deposited with a commercial airbrush
- One-time application of Strain-and-release to the substrate
- Two-step process to create film
- Transparent
- Flexible and Conductive
- Film able to accommodate strains of up to 150 percent and demonstrates a conductivity of 1000 Siemens/centimeter
- Highest conductivity reported in literature for a conductor that can be stretched more than 100 percent
- Film able to accommodate strains of up to 150 percent and demonstrates a conductivity of 1000 Siemens/centimeter
- Fracture-resistant
Publications
- Lipomi, Darren, Michael Vosgueritchian, Benjamin Tee, Sondra Hellstrom , Jennifer Lee, Courtney Fox, and Zhenan Bao, Skin-like Pressure and Strain Sensors based on Transparent Elastic Films of Carbon Nanotubes , Nature Nanotechnology, 6, pp. 788–792, Published online 23 October 2011: 1-5, DOI:10.1038/nnano.2011.184
- Bergeron, Louis, Stanford Researchers Build Transparent, Super-stretchy Skin-like Sensor, Stanford University News Service, published online 24 October 2011.
- Fyffe, Steven, "Nanotube Springs Stretch Skin-Like Sensor", Uploaded by Stanford University on 21 October 2011.
Stage of Development
Nanotubes successfully deposited on the surface of substrate – experimental tests reveal that in its unstretched state, the films exhibit sheet resistance values of 328 ohm/sq at 79% transmittance. The films are reversibly stretchable up to two and a half times their original length.
Continuing Research
Continuing to improve the conductivity and transparency of the films produced by this process.
Patents
- Published Application: 20140109695
- Issued: 9,212,960 (USA)
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