3d-printable one-part carbon particle elastomer ink for applications such as health monitoring

Abstract

3D printable inks are disclosed which include one-part room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone and carbon particles such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Butyl acetate may be used as a solvent to disperse the CNTs in the silicone in the ink precursor. The one-part nature of the inks (i) enables to print without prior mixing and cures under ambient conditions; (ii) allows directly dispensing 100 μm resolution printability on nonpolar and polar substrates; and (iii) forms both self-supporting and high-aspect-ratio structures, key aspects in additive biomanufacturing that eliminate the need for sacrificial layers; and (iv) lends efficient, reproducible, and highly sensitive responses to various tensile and compressive stimuli. The high electrical and thermal conductivity of the CNT-silicone composite is further extended to facilitate use as a flexible and stretchable heating element, with applications in body temperature regulation, water distillation, and a dual temperature sensor and Joule heating source, for example.