Rapid micro-patterning of a conductive PANI/MWNTs-polymer composite using an optically-induced electrokinetics chip

A flexible, dynamically programmable and low-cost method applicable to micro-patterning of a conductive polymer/carbon nanotube composite solution is significant due to the potential applications in many areas. This paper demonstrates a new micro-patterning method for fabricating electrodes from a conductive polyaniline (PANI)/MWNT composite using an optically-induced electrokinetics (OEK) chip. This method quickly patterns flexible polymeric electrodes with different geometries when a square waveform signal with amplitudes from 16-20 Volts and frequencies from 20-30 kHz are applied. The geometric dimensions of the electrodes can be varied dynamically by controlling the size and exposure time of the light pattern. The surface morphology of electrodes patterned by this method is scanned by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) which show that the electrodes are uniform and continuous. Furthermore, the geometric dimensions and resistances of the electrodes are measured and analyzed. Experimental results reveal that the relationship between the resistance and geometries of the electrodes obey Ohm's law and the resistivity of the electrodes is about 0.03Ω·m. © 2012 IEEE.