Designing functional filler networks via in situ silver nanoparticles through barrier tuning and volume exclusion.

ABSTRACT: The fabrication of high-performance functional polymer composites requires delicate balance between functionalities, filler content and overall performance, and preparation route is urgently needed. Guided by Simmons theory, a PDMS-based stretchable conductor with metal-level conductivity is realized through a strategy by combining silver nanoparticle in-situ formation, optimized barrier height and volume excluding effect. Firstly, a universal matrix-independent etching-reduction method generates uniform Ag nanoparticles (~ 9.7 nm), shortening tunneling distances. Then, tunneling barrier height is minimized to 0.06 eV by aligning energy levels of surface-treated silver nanoflakes and PDMS, reducing electron scattering. Finally, silver-plated PDMS microspheres act as volume-excluding phase,

SUBMITTER: Tian K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12820149 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature