Customizable conductive nanocomposites for use in wearable electronics
Customizable conductive nanocomposites for use in wearable electronics lead image
Wearable electronics is an exciting new field that seeks to incorporate devices and sensors for a range of applications, from monitoring and treating health conditions to motion sensing for virtual reality systems. The materials used to make these devices must be stretchable, flexible, and durable to function in their designed role. These materials must also be conductive, but it is difficult to fulfill each of these requirements.
Park et al. discussed a novel class of materials, conductive nanocomposites, for their potential use in wearable electronics. Their review highlighted several examples of this type of material and outlined their properties and potential applications.
Conductive nanocomposites are formed from a filler material embedded in a polymer matrix, and this allows for a wide range of possibilities. The strength and flexibility of the nanocomposite can be controlled by the material used in the matrix, while the filler material can determine the electrical properties.
“This review focused on comparing the properties of the filler and polymer materials, and the resulting nanocomposites, to provide insights for how each type of material leads to particular properties,” said author Chansul Park.
The team hopes their review will help others looking to select from the long list of possible materials to achieve specific goals in wearable electronics.
“This review can guide researchers to choose appropriate polymers and nanomaterials to attain their target performance and corresponding device applications,” said Park. “They will get an overview of how each material can perform at its best and how the materials can work together.”
Source: “Stretchable conductive nanocomposites and their applications in wearable devices,” by Chansul Park, Min Su Kim, Hye Hyun Kim, Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo, Dong Jun Jung, Moon Kee Choi, and Dae-Hyeong Kim, Applied Physics Reviews (2022). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0093261 .
This paper is part of the Flexible and Smart Electronics Collection, learn more here .
