Facile Fabrication of Carbon Nanocolloid-Silver Composite Ink for the Application of All Inkjet-Printed Wearable Electronics

Abstract

Currently, owing to the increasing demand for continuous monitoring of health status, it is highly expected to develop functional sensors with satisfied performance. However, traditional sensors generally suffer from the disadvantages of inherent rigidity, limited range, and complicated fabricating methods, failing to provide the required detection. Well-developed printing technologies have opened a new era for fabricating electronics. The advantages of flexibility, easy scalability, and high resolution endow inkjet printing with the ability to manufacture devices with desired properties. In this work, a green carbon nanocolloid-silver composite ink is facilely prepared and successfully applied in inkjet printing of strain sensors. Good performance such as high sensitivity (a gauge factor of 267.5), fast response (114 ms), long service life, and outstanding stability (>3000) is demonstrated for the as-fabricated sensors. Moreover, the printed sensors are revealed to be capable of monitoring multiscale human motions for practical application as a wearable device.