Stretchable interconnects using screen printed nanocomposites of MWCNTs with PDMS and P(VDF-TrFE)

This paper presents the methodology developed for implementation of stretchable interconnects from nanocomposites of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride Trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)). The cost-effective manual screen printing technique has been adopted to realize the stretchable interconnects with different weight percentages (wt. %) of nanocomposite solutions. To improve the elongation or strechability interconnects have been patterned into a serpentine shape. Both the printed interconnects and bulk pellets of the composites have been evaluated through optical means and electrical measurements. It is found that the 6 wt % of MWCNTs-PDMS and 5 wt % of MWCNTs-P(VDF-TrFE) composites have the electrical resistance which is acceptable for many applications. Unlike the common metal interconnects, the nanocomposites based interconnects are highly flexible, stretchable and have good electrical properties. The stretchable interconnects can accommodate significant deformations while maintaining the electrical conductivities and hence they prove to be promising candidates for electronics over large areas.