EFFECTS OF CYCLIC BENDING ON MICROSTRUCTURE OF HYBRID CARBON-METAL CONDUCTIVE INKS

Abstract

Conductive inks are widely employed in flexible electronics and circuits that undergo repeated bending or flexing, which can significantly affect the electrical and mechanical performance. This research presents the effects of cyclic bending on the microstructure of hybrid carbon-metal conductive ink. Using an ultrasonic bath, a sonication technique was employed to fabricate the hybrid carbon-metal powder using Graphene Nanoplatelets and silver flakes. The hybrid carbon-metal conductive ink was developed using a different ratio of organic solvent, cured at 260 °C, and underwent a cyclic bending test for 16000 cycles. Mechanical properties were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope to evaluate the microstructure of the ink. The findings indicate that the ratio of 50:50 of 1-butanol to terpineol shows dense and compact filler networks with minimal voids and well-dispersed Graphene Nanoplatelets and silver flakes with the lowest value of resistance and resistivity after 16000 cycles. In conclusion, the carbon-metal conductive inks cured at 260 °C for five hours show improved electrical performance during the cyclic bending test. For further investigation, the curing temperature should remain at 260 °C for different curing durations.