Effect of toluene and methanol on Ag microparticles
dispersion in PDMS
Introduction
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in
composite materials of two types of phases,
dielectric(composite material matrix) and conductive, for
the manufacture of flexible electronic devices.
Provide conductive properties to a dielectric matrix
composite requires a minimum conductive volume
fraction[1]. This minimum volume fraction is known as the
percolation threshold, Pc (Figure 1).
Concentration < Pc Concentration > Pc
Figure 1. Continuous path formation by increasing the conductive
phase concentration.
• For concentrations >Pc, a continuous path of
conductive material appear and allow electrical current
flow through the material.
Results
In figure 4, optical microscope images of the
sample manufactured without solvent are
observed. In this sample:
• There are agglomerates of various sizes and
distances between them, up to 100 μm in
diameter.
• Large agglomerates protrude the composite,
generating different film thicknesses.
Number of particles (%)
35
30 Toluene
25
20
15
10
5 5
0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Particle size (μm)
100 μm
100 μm
27 μm
substrate
Figure 5. Final samples of process with solvents.
Discussion
The results indicate that the use of solvents modifies the
quality of the dispersion of Ag microparticles in PDMS.
Although there are still agglomerates, their size was
considerably reduced in the case of toluene and
methanol, with a greater homogeneity than in the
manufacturing process without solvent in both samples.
On the other hand, under the same conditions the film
made with methanol has a thickness greater than that of
toluene, so its viscosity is greater [5]. Likewise, the
bimodal tendency in the particle size distribution
reduces the homogeneity of the dispersion.
Obregón G. Jesús1, García P. Georgina1, Munguía C. Jacobo Esteban2
1ESIME Ticomán-IPN, Mexico city, Mexico
2CNMN-IPN, Mexico city, México
E-mail: ogarciajesus@hotmail.com
Why PDMS?
• For concentrations <Pc, continuous paths do not exist
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a material widely used as
and the conductive property does not percolate in the
a matrix for this type of electrical composite, since its
material.
physical properties remain stable over a wide range of
On the other hand, as has been demonstrated
temperatures, from -50 to 200 ° C [3-4].
experimentally [2], threshold depends on the conductive
phase particle size, smaller particle size smaller Pc, as
seen in Figure 2.
2A=8a Hypothesis
Ag microparticles tend to form agglomerates of various
a
A A sizes, dispersing these particles in a PDMS matrix
a generates non-homogeneous dispersions. Performing a
predispersion of these particles to reduce agglomerates
Figure 2. Particle size decreasing at same surface concentration.
sizes before filled the polymer matrix improves the quality
Therefore, decreasing the size of the agglomerates found of the dispersion.
in the dispersion of conductive particles in polymer matrix
can lead to the generation of more flexible and cheaper
devices. Methodology
In this work, the effect of toluene and methanol on the Figure 3 illustrates the two manufacturing processes, with
quality of Ag microparticles (1-3 μm) dispersion in a PDMS and without solvents. In both cases the volume of
matrix is studied. In particular, to define an Ag-PDMS manufactured composite is 2 ml.
manufacturing method. Without solvent, the desired 30 wt% of Ag microparticles
is filled into PDMS monomer with high-speed stirring
process. Air bubbles are removed through vacuum and the
resulting mixture is deposited on a glass substrate. Finally
the sample is curing in an oven for 2 hours at 75 ° C.
A) B)
Without
Curing Solvent
Agent
1:10(w/w) Spin-coating and
thermal curing
Ag micro-
500 μm 100 μm
particles
Figure 4. Final process sample without solvent A) 5x b) PDMS Deposit on Ag-PDMS Thin film
20x monomer glass substrate
35 Ag micro-
particles
30 Methanol In the case of samples manufactured Curing
25 Agent
20
with the use of solvents (figure 5): 1:10(w/w)
15
10 • Conductive phase is completely Solvent
1ml
embedded in composite.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 • Agglomeration degree decreases High-speed 2° Ultrasonic bath Ultrasonic bath
strirring
Particle size (μm) significantly.
• Largest average size ~ 24 μm.
• The film made with methane has Figure 3. Schematic fabrication processes of Ag-PDMS films.
greater thickness.
Additionally, sampling 100 particles in With solvent, 20 wt% Ag microparticles are predispersed
each case, the particle size distribution
before filled into PDMS in one of the two solvents with a
for each solvent is determined,
100 μm
observing a unimodal and bimodal ultrasonic bath. Then, the microparticles are filled into PDMS
100 μm
tendency for toluene and methanol monomer with a second ultrasonic bath and the first process is
respectively repeated from high-speed stirring.
40 μm
substrate
Conclusions References
[1] X. Niu, S. Peng, L. Liu, W. Wen, P. Sheng. “Characterizing
It is generally concluded from this experimental evidence that and Patterning of PDMS-Based Conducting Composites”
the use of surfactants is feasible to improve the homogeneity Advanced Functional Materials, 2007, pp. 2682-2686.
[2] X. Jing, W. Zhao and L. Lan “The effect of size on electric
of the dispersion of Ag microparticles in PDMS. Particularly, I
conducting percolation threshold in polymer/conducting
feel toluene, the solvent with which the most uniform
particle composites” Journal of Materials Science Letters,
dispersion is achieved and, therefore, the best option to 2000, pp. 377-379.
obtain the lowest percolation threshold. [3] J. J. Wang, M. Y. Lin, H. Y. Liang, R. Chen and W. Fang
“Piezoresistive Nanocomposite Rubber Elastomer For
Acknowledgments Stretchable MEMS Sensor” MEMS, 2016, pp. 24-28.
[4] H. Cong and T. Pan “Photopatternable Conductive PDMS
This work was financed with the SIP 20181499 IPN project.
Jesús Obregón García is a CONACyT and BEIFI intern of the Materials for Microfabrication” Advanced Functional Materials,
2008, pp. 1912-1921.
IPN, Georgina García Pacheco is a COFAA and EDD intern,
Jacobo Esteban Munguía Cervantes belongs to SIN and is a [5] A. Khosla “Nanoparticle-doped Electrically-conducting
COFAA and EDI intern. Polymers for Flexible Nano-Micro Systems” The
electromechanical Society, 2012, pp 67-70.