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Ionically Conductive Pastes as Conformable Collector for Transparent, Nonplanar Triboelectric Devices
Author(s) -
Chen XiaChao,
Sun Peiru,
Sun Tianyu,
Yu Zhenwei,
Chen Fengxiang,
Chen Yong,
Liu Hongliang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced electronic materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.25
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 2199-160X
DOI - 10.1002/aelm.201900668
Subject(s) - materials science , electrical conductor , conductor , ionic liquid , ionic bonding , conformable matrix , triboelectric effect , nanotechnology , composite material , optoelectronics , ion , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis
As an alternative to opaque electronic conductors, ionic conductors have been recently adopted to construct flexible, transparent devices. When integrated into devices, however, liquid ionic conductors can easily leak while it is difficult to shape solid ones to accommodate three‐dimensional (3D) surfaces. A paste‐like ionic conductor is fabricated by mixing an amorphous fluoropolymer with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The low surface electrostatic potential of [NTf 2 ] − makes the latter compatible with the polymer, forming a transparent ionic conductor without obvious phase separation. This ionic conductor displays a unique viscoelastic behavior, which combines solid‐like elasticity and liquid‐like plasticity at different time scales. Therefore, it exhibits a series of favorable mechanical properties, including large stretchability and self‐healing capability, and demonstrates a remarkable ability to transfer onto arbitrary surfaces and comply with the locomotion of substrates. To demonstrate its practical applications, this paste‐like ionic conductor is reconfigured on a plastic tube to develop a transparent triboelectric device, which is capable of detecting the sliding of water droplets and providing visual information of inside.