A team of researchers has succeeded in developing conductive polymer films that strengthen upon impact. In the design of portable electronic devices, this could be a small revolution.
Do you know oobleck? This strange material made from cornstarch and water. The latter is the simplest example of a non-Newtonian fluid and is in the form of a thick paste which strengthens when struck and becomes liquid again afterwards (see video below). Researchers at the University of California at Merced (UCM) have developed an electronic material with astonishing physical characteristics, similar to the oobleck. It’s not as strong as amorphous silicon carbide, but it could radically transform our approach to wearable technology.
Innovative properties
This research was carried out under the direction of Di Wu, postdoctoral researcher in materials science, and Yue (Jessica) Wang. Rather than rupturing, the polymer films developed at Merced deform and stretch. Diwu explains: “ These polymers are very promising “. She goes on to explain that their goal is to make them “ lighter, cheaper and smarter “.
The secret of this material lies in a rather sophisticated composition, which combines four different polymers. One of them is PEDOT:PSS, added in a small quantity (10%) in the mixture. This is a polymer already widely used to manufacture touch screens, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or organic photovoltaic cells. This complex structure allows it to absorb the energy of impacts without breaking.
1,3-propanediamine nanoparticles are also included in the composition, which make it even more efficient and facilitate even more pronounced deformation in the face of impacts while reinforcing the internal resistance of the structure.
What could it be used for?
The next step is to succeed in integrating these new type of polymer films into concrete applications and so that they are not just an object of scientific curiosity. Connected watch bracelets or flexible sensors for health monitoring: heart sensors, skin patches for blood sugar monitoring, body temperature sensors, etc.
The team led by Wang is also working on another version of this material, compatible with 3D printers. The researcher is very enthusiastic: “ The potential applications are numerous, and we look forward to exploring all the opportunities this innovative property offers “. Hopefully this material, which still doesn’t have a name, will emerge from the walls of Wang’s lab and find use one day.
Source : Ars Technica
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