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Stretchable conductors: thin gold films on silicone elastomer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Stéphanie P. Lacour ,
Sigurd Wagner  and
Z. Suo
Stéphanie P. Lacour
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, USA.
Sigurd Wagner
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544, USA.
Z. Suo
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA.
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Abstract

Thin stripes of gold deposited onto elastomeric substrates can be stretched reversibly by more than 20 % while remaining electrically conducting. We are developing such stripes to serve as electrical interconnects on stretchable electronic skins. The gold layers are 25-nm to 500-nm thick. We observe two different film morphologies: the stripe is either buckled and continuous, or flat and contains micrometer-long cracks. Stretchability is correlated with the thickness and initial topography of the gold layer. Stripes thicker than 100-nm fail electrically at tensile strain of ∼ 1 %, while thinner stripes remain conducting up to much larger strain. Upon stretching the buckled stripes flatten and break into islands of 1 to 100 micrometers on a side, while the initially microcracked stripes retain their micrometer scale structure. The electrical resistance of the buckled stripes is the lowest but the micro-textured stripes can be stretched more.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 795: Symposium U – Thin Films - Stresses and Mechanical Properties X , 2003 , U6.9
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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