Performance of graphene hybrid-based ink for flexible electronics

The main aim of the present study is to develop graphene-based ink and graphene hybrid-based ink with excellent stability, physical and electrical properties for flexible electronics. Graphene foam (GF) was used as the graphene-like material and inkjet printing technique was utilized in the fabrication of the conductive patterns. GF ink, GF/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hybrid ink and GF/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) hybrid ink were prepared by using new mixed solvents of 2-propanol (IPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) at ratio of 1:1. Results showed that GF/PEDOT:PSS hybrid ink presented better stability and surface conductivity than those of GF ink and GF/AgNPs hybrid ink, in which the ink exhibited only 30% decrement from the initial concentration after a month and 100% improvement in the surface conductivity at 50 printed layers. Besides that, the conductive pattern made of GF/PEDOT:PSS hybrid ink exhibited gauge factor with the value of 4.3 which is capable to be used for low strain sensor application.