Layered Elastomer Composite for Wearable Electronics
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Tricia Carmichael
Proposal
The field of wearable technology has advanced in recent years to integrate electronic materials with stretchable substrates to improve the rigidity of conventional electronic devices. Wearable devices must be conformal to and move with the human body while maintaining electrical functionality. Soft, silicone-based elastomers like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Ecoflex are commonly used as the base because of their low modulus, high strain limit, biocompatibility, and mechanical robustness. Here, we make a layered elastomer composite that combines the surface properties of a thin PDMS membrane with the mechanical properties of an Ecoflex bulk through crosslinking of the layers. The cure time of PDMS was varied to change the extent of mixing between the two layers and its influence on the surface of the composite. The PDMS membrane can be modified by plasma oxidation to increase its hydrophilicity which allowed for subsequent functionalization with silanes, metallization by physical vapour deposition, or gold patterning by nano-transfer printing. A full study of the mechanical properties, electrical properties and the hydrophobic recovery of the composite was conducted to determine the effect of the Ecoflex on the PDMS membrane.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Layered Elastomer Composite for Wearable Electronics
The field of wearable technology has advanced in recent years to integrate electronic materials with stretchable substrates to improve the rigidity of conventional electronic devices. Wearable devices must be conformal to and move with the human body while maintaining electrical functionality. Soft, silicone-based elastomers like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Ecoflex are commonly used as the base because of their low modulus, high strain limit, biocompatibility, and mechanical robustness. Here, we make a layered elastomer composite that combines the surface properties of a thin PDMS membrane with the mechanical properties of an Ecoflex bulk through crosslinking of the layers. The cure time of PDMS was varied to change the extent of mixing between the two layers and its influence on the surface of the composite. The PDMS membrane can be modified by plasma oxidation to increase its hydrophilicity which allowed for subsequent functionalization with silanes, metallization by physical vapour deposition, or gold patterning by nano-transfer printing. A full study of the mechanical properties, electrical properties and the hydrophobic recovery of the composite was conducted to determine the effect of the Ecoflex on the PDMS membrane.