Silver Nanowire Coated Threads for Electrically Conductive Textiles
Loading...
Date
2015-08-24
Authors
Atwa, Yahya
Advisor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
The emerging area of e-textiles requires electrically conductive threads. We demonstrate that nylon, polyester, and cotton threads can be made conductive by coating their surfaces with random networks of solution-synthesized silver nanowires. A resistance per unit length of 0.8 O cm1 was achieved and can be varied through the density of the nanowire coating. Because the nanowires are 35 nm in diameter, and the mesh structure does not cover the entire surface like a thin-film, less metal is used compared to conventional silver-coated conductive threads. This leads to a much lower weight and mechanically flexible coating. The functionality of the thread as a heater and the fabrication of stretchable conductive thread are also demonstrated.
Description
Keywords
conductive textiles, silver nanowires, nanotechnology