3D Printing Ionogel Auxetic Frameworks for Stretchable Sensors

Abstract

Ionogels are an emerging class of soft materials that exhibit ionic conductivity and thermal stability without the need to replenish ions or the addition of conductive particle fillers. An ionogel ink is reported for direct‐write 3D printing to fabricate conductive structures that can vary in the printed object geometries. This approach relies on a shear‐thinning ionogel ink that can be extruded to afford self‐supporting constructs. After a brief UV cure, the printed construct is transformed into a mechanically tough, transparent structure that is ionically conductive. Upon application of stretching and twisting loads, the 3D‐printed objects exhibit detectable changes in conductivity. To demonstrate the versatility of rapid prototyping with the ionogel inks, an auxetic structure is 3D printed and tested as a strain sensor. The printed auxetic structure exhibits an electrical response to strain, but also demonstrates increased extensibility and operational range in comparison to a casted bulk film with the same outer dimensions.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Aug 08, 2019
Source ID
10.1002/admt.201900452

Entities

People

  • Alex Gong
  • Alshakim Nelson
  • Bruce Beauchamp
  • Corie L. Cobb
  • Haritz Sardon
  • Jitkanya Wong
  • Leire Meabe
  • Peter Defnet
  • Robert Sweet

Organizations

  • Army Research Office
  • United States Army Research Laboratory
  • University of Washington

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology
  • Reinforced Composite Materials