A method has been developed for the deposition of conductive metals onto fibers within textile structures. The resultant fabric exhibited full metal coverage with good adhesion to the fibers. As well as being conductive and extremely flexible with little effect on its handle and drape properties. In order to make a conductive fabric, cotton was first mercerized followed by immersion in poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) solution. Silver nitrate was then reduced on the surface of the fabric which allowed formation of silver nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy studies of the conductive fabric confirmed the deposition of the polymer resulted in more uniform attachment of nanosilver to the surface of fibers. The fabric was then electroless plated to obtain a surface resistivity less than 0.2 Ω/square. This method can be used for woven, non-woven and knitted types of fabric. It can be applied on to the fibers before or after being made into a textile.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the form of interconnects have many potential applications, and their ability to perform at high temperatures gives them a unique capability. We show the development of a novel transfer process using CNTs and sintered silver that offers a unique high-temperature, high-conductivity, and potentially flexible interconnect solution. Arrays of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes of approximately 200 μm in length were grown on silicon substrates, using low-temperature photothermal chemical vapor deposition. Oxygen plasma treatment was used to introduce defects, in the form of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups, on the walls of the carbon nanotubes so that they could bond to palladium (Pd). Nanoparticle silver was then used to bind the Pd-coated multiwalled CNTs to a copper substrate. The silver-CNT-silver interconnects were found to be ohmic conductors, with resistivity of 6.2 × 10(-4) Ωm; the interconnects were heated to temperatures exceeding 300 °C (where common solders fail) and were found to maintain their electrical performance.

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