Development of self-healing stretchable conductors and textile sensors

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22411
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0302:Electrical and electronic engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Okutani Chihiro 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 特任研究員 (60876449)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 伸縮性導体 / コンポジット材料 / 転写プロセス / プリンテッドエレクトロニクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we synthesized self-healable polymers and developed a stretchable conductive ink by mixing polymers, conductive materials, and organic solvents and achieved the patterning by printing. In addition, by focusing on the fact that the healable polymers self-adhere to each other, we prepared healable materials on the surface of silicone rubbers with low adhesiveness, and used the transfer process to transfer the conductive material onto the healable polymer substrate. In particular, by setting the temperature to around 40°C in the transfer process, we succeeded in creating the structure in which the conductor was embedded within the healable polymer substrate.

Free Research Field

フレキシブルエレクトロニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

同じ修復性高分子材料を含んでいる基材と導体を、柔らかいシリコーンゴム基板を介して熱圧着することで、基材と導体が強い密着性を持ちつつ、導体が基材内に埋め込まれた、表面が平坦な電極を形成できた。この密着性の高い、平坦で埋め込まれた構造は、機械的な耐久性を向上させるのに有用であることがわかったので、ウェアラブルデバイスやソフトロボティクスへのさらなる応用における、耐久性の高い伸縮性電子デバイスの開発に役立つと考えられる。