American Research On How To Apply Conductive Nano Coating To Textiles

　　 Imagine inserting a USB port into a piece of paper and turning it into a tablet computer. This may take a while, but the researchers at North Carolina State University have studied how to apply conductive nano coating to simple textiles, such as shuttle cotton cloth or even a piece of paper, according to these ideas.

"Usually conductive nano coating is applied to Inorganic materials Such as silicon. If we can find a way to apply them to textiles (cheap, flexible materials, surface textures), this will mean a cost-effective approach, which is a framework for improving current and future electronic devices. "Jesse Jur, the lead author of the thesis, said he is an assistant doctor in textile engineering, chemistry and science.

The so-called atomic layer deposition inorganic material coating technology, commonly used in solar cells, sensors and microelectronics technology, researchers imagine that this technology will be applied to the surface of textiles, such as shuttle cotton cloth and Non-woven fabrics Polypropylene surface, the same material for reused grocery bags. "Imagine that the coated fabric, each of which has the same nano thickness coating, is thousands of times more thinner than human hair, which can be achieved by atomic layer deposition technology," Jur said. The study was conducted by Akcoa Parson Gregory, a professor of chemistry and Biomolecular Engineering in North Carolina, in his laboratory. The results showed that ordinary textile materials were used to make complex electronic devices.

As part of their research, researchers have created a program to quantify the electrical conductivity of conductive materials for textile materials. At present, the standard of measuring conductivity is using a four point probe, putting an ammeter between the two probes, and putting a voltmeter between the other two probes. However, these probes are too small to measure the readings of textile materials accurately. In the paper, the researchers said they used the new technology to accurately measure the electrical conductivity of nano coatings by using larger probes. This new system allows researchers to better understand how to turn the coating on textiles into conductive devices.

"We do not expect to make complex transistors with cotton, but simple. Electronic device It can benefit from the use of the lightweight flexibility of textile materials, "explains Jur. "Research like this has potential health and testing applications, because we may have embedded sensors in real materials at first, which can track heart rate, body temperature, exercise and more real-time tracking. To do this, you must attach a wire harness to the entire fabric, which makes the fabric large and uncomfortable.

In the electronic world, ideals are always smaller and lighter. If we can improve how to apply and measure the conductive coating on textiles, we may move the needle and coating equipment of the coating equipment with essential electrical conductivity, and also have all the benefits of natural textile materials for human beings.

The paper was published in the June new functional material version. The research is funded by the Department of energy and the nonwovens cooperative research center.