Networks
of silver nanowires (Ag NWs) have been considered as promising materials
for stretchable and transparent conductors. Despite various improvements
of their optoelectronic and electromechanical properties over the
past few years, Ag NW networks with a sufficient stretchability in
multiple directions that is essential for the accommodation of the
multidirectional strains of human movement have seldom been reported.
For this paper, biaxially stretchable, transparent conductors were
developed based on 2D mass-spring networks of wavy Ag NWs. Inspired
by the traditional papermaking process, the 2D wavy networks were
produced by floating Ag NW networks on the surface of water and subsequently
applying biaxial compression to them. It was demonstrated that this
floating-compression process can reduce the friction between the Ag
NW–water interfaces, providing a uniform and isotropic in-plane
waviness for the networks without buckling or cracking. The resulting
Ag NW networks that were transferred onto elastomeric substrates successfully
acted as conductors with an excellent transparency, conductivity,
and electromechanical stability under a biaxial strain of 30%. The
strain sensors that are based on the prepared conductors demonstrated
a great potential for the enhanced performances of future wearable
devices
