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Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet-reinforced SU-8 for microelectrical contacts

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Abstract

There is an ever-increasing demand for polymer-based electrical leads patterned on polymer substrates of any shape to connect two electrical components. Much, however, still remains challenging about electrical leads made of polymer nanocomposites that have high affinity to polymer substrates and outstanding applicability to curved surfaces, unlike metals. This leads to the need for the development of photopatternable and electrically conductive polymer nanocomposites and, by extension, comprehensive understanding of the constituent and processes involved in their development. Here, a set of polymer nanocomposites incorporating exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet (xGnP) into SU-8, xGnP/SU-8 nanocomposites, are developed as photopatternable and electrically conductive nanocomposites for electrical lead micropatterning. The inclusion of xGnP, carbon-based conductive nanofiller, is intended to provide electrical conductivity, and the use of SU-8, photocurable host polymer, is designed to achieve both patternability and strong adhesion to polymer surfaces. First, the dependence of patterning characteristics (i.e., patterning thickness and patterning error) on xGnP content and UV exposure dose are extensively explored. The patterning thickness varies from 7.4 to 199.6 μm, and the patterning error changes from 12.1 to 32.7 μm with variations in xGnP content of 0.00–9.65 vol% and UV exposure dose of 500–5000 mJ/cm2. Next, an evolution in the electrical conductivity of xGnP/SU-8 nanocomposites with variation of xGnP content is explored to understand their electrical behavior. The electrical conductivity increases from 0.8 µS/m to 866.7 S/m with an increase in xGnP content of 0.00–9.65 vol%. Finally yet importantly, the applicability of xGnP/SU-8 nanocomposites to electrical lead micropatterning is demonstrated by photopatterning an electrical circuit for light-emitting diode chips using the xGnP/SU-8 nanocomposites on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The findings of this study will contribute to a significant growth of polymer-based electrical leads and better understanding of photopatternable and electrically conductive nanocomposites.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Agency for Defense Development Grant funded by the Korean Government (UG210017GD and UE211160SD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioinspired Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea

    Youlim Lee, Sehwan Song & Sang-Hee Yoon

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2540 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Woochul Lee

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Lee, Y., Song, S., Lee, W. et al. Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet-reinforced SU-8 for microelectrical contacts. J Mater Sci 58, 7380–7397 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08492-6

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