Assessment of electromechanical properties of screen printed polymer nanopastes

Highlights: ► Carbon nanotubes and graphite nanofibers exhibited a tendency to agglomeration. ► Layer thickness appeared to be used nanopaste- and substrate-dependent. ► EL-P3040/GNF exhibited higher sheet resistance than EL-P3040 and EL-P3040/CNT. ► Multilayer printing caused the layers to be less durable to cyclic bending. -- Abstract: Printed electronics has provided different printing techniques as environmentally friendly and cost-effective manufacturing methods of electronic components. The printed items can be produced on low cost, different types of flexible substrates, even when their surface is corrugated. This opens a new application range of printed electronics and makes them competitive with traditionally manufactured electronics. However, it is necessary to investigate new materials to continue the rapid progress in printed electronics. In our study, the electromechanical properties of polymer nanopastes consisted of carbon nanotubes and graphite platelet nanofibers mixed with a conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) were investigated. Their microstructure and the layer morphology were observed using a scanning electron microscope and an optical microscope. The thickness and average roughness of the layers printed on the foil and paper were determined with a contact profilometer. The mechanical durability of the screen printed layers was verified in a cyclic bending test. The highest mechanical durability was exhibited by the polymer pastes containing carbon nanotubes