Autocatalytic metallization of fabrics using Si ink, for biosensors, batteries and energy harvesting
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Commercially available metal inks are mainly designed for planar substrates (for example, polyethylene terephthalate foils or ceramics), and they contain hydrophobic polymer binders that fill the pores in fabrics when printed, thus resulting in hydrophobic electrodes. Here, a low‐cost binder‐free method for the metallization of woven and nonwoven fabrics is presented that preserves the 3D structure and hydrophilicity of the substrate. Metals such as Au, Ag, and Pt are grown autocatalytically, using metal salts, inside the fibrous network of fabrics at room temperature in a two‐step process, with a water‐based silicon particle ink acting as precursor. Using this method, (patterned) metallized fabrics are being enabled to be produced with low electrical resistance (less than 3.5 Ω sq−1). In addition to fabrics, the method is also compatible with other 3D hydrophilic substrates such as nitrocellulose membranes. The versatility of this method is demonstrated by producing coil antennas for wireless energy harvesting, Ag–Zn batteries for energy storage, electrochemical biosensors for the detection of DNA/proteins, and as a substrate for optical sensing by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In the future, this method of metallization may pave the way for new classes of high‐performance devices using low‐cost fabrics.
Date Issued
2019-01-04
Date Acceptance
2018-10-12
Citation
Advanced Functional Materials, 2019, 29 (1), pp.1-11
ISSN
1616-301X
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1
End Page
11
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Functional Materials
Volume
29
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Published by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Cou
Identifier
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.201804798
Grant Number
207687/Z/17/Z
EP/R010242/1
PO 10762
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
Physics
energy harvesting and storage
fabrics
paper
sensing
textiles
ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION
ELECTROLESS DEPOSITION
SILVER NANOPARTICLES
SILICON SURFACE
PAPER
DEVICES
FILMS
DNA
energy harvesting and storage
fabrics
paper
sensing
textiles
02 Physical Sciences
03 Chemical Sciences
09 Engineering
Materials
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e1804798
Date Publish Online
2018-11-09