Ink formulation of functional nanowires with hyperbranched stabilizers for versatile printing of flexible electronics

Xiaoqian Mi, Lixue Liu, Shujia Yang, Peiqi Wu, Weiqing Zhan, Xinyi Ji and Jiajie Liang ()
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Xiaoqian Mi: Nankai University
Lixue Liu: Nankai University
Shujia Yang: Nankai University
Peiqi Wu: Nankai University
Weiqing Zhan: Nankai University
Xinyi Ji: Nankai University
Jiajie Liang: Nankai University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Functional nanowire ink formulations require elaborate control over their composition, rheological properties, and fluidic properties to optimize their printing processes. They also require harsh post-fabrication treatments to maximize the performance of the resulting printed flexible devices, making it challenging to uniformly deposit nanowire-based architectures and ensure device reproducibility and scalability. Here, we propose a strategy for developing silver nanowire (AgNW) ink formulations, where hyperbranched molecules (HPMs) are employed as both dispersant and stabilizer for nanowires. The three-dimensional architecture with functional groups on the periphery of HPMs enables the preparation of thixotropic HPMs-AgNW inks with solid contents of up to 20 wt.% in both aqueous and organic solvents using a low amount of HPMs (AgNW and HPMs weight ratio = 1:0.001). The HPMs-AgNW inks can be printed into patterns with a resolution of 20 μm on various flexible substrates without needing harsh post-treatments. We obtain bar-coated transparent electrodes (sheet resistance of 17.1 Ω sq−1 at 94.7% transmittance), slot-die-coated flexible conductive patterns, screen-printed conductive lines (conductivity exceeding 6.2 × 104 S cm−1), and 3D printed stretchable wires. Importantly, this HPMs-stabilized formulation strategy is general for various functional nanowires, enabling the integration of a diverse set of nanowire-based wearable electronic systems.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57959-4

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