Stretchable nanocomposite electrodes with tunable mechanical properties by supersonic cluster beam implantation in elastomers

We demonstrate the fabrication of gold-polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite electrodes, by supersonic cluster beam implantation, with tunable Young's modulus depending solely on the amount of metal clusters implanted in the elastomeric matrix. We show both experimentally and by atomistic simulati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2015-03, Vol.106 (12)
Main Authors: Borghi, F., Melis, C., Ghisleri, C., Podestà, A., Ravagnan, L., Colombo, L., Milani, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied physics
ASPECT RATIO
CLUSTER BEAMS
Computer simulation
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Elastic properties
ELASTICITY
ELASTOMERS
ELECTRODES
FABRICATION
GOLD
Implantation
MATRIX MATERIALS
Mechanical properties
Metal clusters
MODIFICATIONS
Modulus of elasticity
Molecular dynamics
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
NANOCOMPOSITES
Nanoindentation
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
Organic chemistry
Polydimethylsiloxane
RUBBERS
YOUNG MODULUS
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Summary:We demonstrate the fabrication of gold-polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite electrodes, by supersonic cluster beam implantation, with tunable Young's modulus depending solely on the amount of metal clusters implanted in the elastomeric matrix. We show both experimentally and by atomistic simulations that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite can be maintained close to that of the bare elastomer for significant metal volume concentrations. Moreover, the elastic properties of the nanocomposite, as experimentally characterized by nanoindentation and modeled with molecular dynamics simulations, are also well described by the Guth-Gold classical model for nanoparticle-filled rubbers, which depends on the presence, concentration, and aspect ratio of metal nanoparticles, and not on the physical and chemical modification of the polymeric matrix due to the embedding process. The elastic properties of the nanocomposite can therefore be determined and engineered a priori, by controlling only the nanoparticle concentration.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.4916350