In-Suk Choi

Engineering the shape and structure of materials by fractal cut

Significance Most materials can be stretched to a small degree, depending on their elastic limits and failure properties. For most materials the maximum elastic dilatation is very small, implying that the macroscopic shapes to which an elastic body can be deformed is severely limited. The present work addresses the simple modification of any material via hierarchical cut patterns to allow for extremely large strains and shape changes and a large range of macroscopic shapes. This is an important step in the development of shape-programmable materials. We provide the mathematical foundation, simulation results, and experimental demonstrations of the concept of fractal cut. This approach effectively broadens the design space for engineered materials for applications ranging from flexible/stretchable devices and photonic materials to bioscaffolds. In this paper we discuss the transformation of a sheet of material into a wide range of desired shapes and patterns by introducing a set of simple cuts in a multilevel hierarchy with different motifs. Each choice of hierarchical cut motif and cut level allows the material to expand into a unique structure with a unique set of properties. We can reverse-engineer the desired expanded geometries to find the requisite cut pattern to produce it without changing the physical properties of the initial material. The concept was experimentally realized and applied to create an electrode that expands to >800% the original area with only very minor stretching of the underlying material. The generality of our approach greatly expands the design space for materials so that they can be tuned for diverse applications.

Highly durable and flexible dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated on plastic substrates: PVDF-nanofiber-reinforced TiO2 photoelectrodes

In this study, we developed a novel nanostructured polymer nanofiber/TiO2 nanoparticle composite photoelectrode with high bendability by a spray-assisted electrospinning method. The composite film is used as the photoelectrode in plastic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The polymer/TiO2 composite photoelectrode has a structure similar to that of a fiber-reinforced composite; the matrix of the composite photoelectrode contains TiO2 nanoparticles, and PVDF nanofibers are embedded in this matrix. Compared to conventional DSCs, composite-based DSCs show outstanding bending stability because the polymer nanofibers prevent delamination of the electrode by relieving the external stress and effectively retarding crack generation and propagation. Moreover, the efficiency of the cell containing composite electrodes is comparable to that of a cell containing only TiO2, suggesting that the proposed PVDF-nanofiber-reinforced photoelectrode is a promising candidate for a bendable photoelectrode in high-efficiency flexible plastic DSCs.

Origin of Size Dependency in Coherent-Twin-Propagation-Mediated Tensile Deformation of Noble Metal Nanowires

Researchers have recently discovered ultrastrong and ductile behavior of Au nanowires (NWs) through long-ranged coherent-twin-propagation. An elusive but fundamentally important question arises whether the size and surface effects impact the twin propagation behavior with a decreasing diameter. In this work, we demonstrate size-dependent strength behavior of ultrastrong and ductile metallic NWs. For Au, Pd, and AuPd NWs, high ductility of about 50% is observed through coherent twin propagation, which occurs by a concurrent reorientation of the bounding surfaces from {111} to {100}. Importantly, the ductility is not reduced with an increase in strength, while the twin propagation stress dramatically increases with decreasing NW diameter from 250 to 40 nm. Furthermore, we find that the power-law exponent describing the twin propagation stress is fundamentally different from the exponent describing the size-dependence of the yield strength. Specifically, the inverse diameter-dependence of the twin propagation stress is directly attributed to surface reorientation, which can be captured by a surface energy differential model. Our work further highlights the fundamental role that surface reorientations play in enhancing the size-dependent mechanical behavior and properties of metal NWs that imply the feasibility of high efficiency mechanical energy storage devices suggested before.

A half millimeter thick coplanar flexible battery with wireless recharging capability.

Most of the existing flexible lithium ion batteries (LIBs) adopt the conventional cofacial cell configuration where anode, separator, and cathode are sequentially stacked and so have difficulty in the integration with emerging thin LIB applications, such as smart cards and medical patches. In order to overcome this shortcoming, herein, we report a coplanar cell structure in which anodes and cathodes are interdigitatedly positioned on the same plane. The coplanar electrode design brings advantages of enhanced bending tolerance and capability of increasing the cell voltage by in series-connection of multiple single-cells in addition to its suitability for the thickness reduction. On the basis of these structural benefits, we develop a coplanar flexible LIB that delivers 7.4 V with an entire cell thickness below 0.5 mm while preserving stable electrochemical performance throughout 5000 (un)bending cycles (bending radius = 5 mm). Also, even the pouch case serves as barriers between anodes and cathodes to prevent Li dendrite growth and short-circuit formation while saving the thickness. Furthermore, for convenient practical use wireless charging via inductive electromagnetic energy transfer and solar cell integration is demonstrated.

Directing the Deformation Paths of Soft Metamaterials with Prescribed Asymmetric Units

By prescribing asymmetric ligaments with different arrangements in elastomeric porous membranes of pre-twisted kagome lattices, the buckling instability is avoided, allowing for smooth and homogenous structural reconfiguration in a deterministic fashion. The stress-strain behaviors and negative Poissons ratios can be tuned by the pre-twisting angles.

Fatigue-Free, Electrically Reliable Copper Electrode with Nanohole Array

Design and fabrication of reliable electrodes is one of the most important challenges in flexible devices, which undergo repeated deformation. In conventional approaches, mechanical and electrical properties of continuous metal films degrade gradually because of the fatigue damage. The designed incorporation of nanoholes into Cu electrodes can enhance the reliability. In this study, the electrode shows extremely low electrical resistance change during bending fatigue because the nanoholes suppress crack initiation by preventing protrusion formation and damage propagation by crack tip blunting. This concept provides a key guideline for developing fatigue-free flexible electrodes.

Less strained and more efficient GaN light-emitting diodes with embedded silica hollow nanospheres

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) become an attractive alternative to conventional light sources due to high efficiency and long lifetime. However, different material properties between GaN and sapphire cause several problems such as high defect density in GaN, serious wafer bowing, particularly in large-area wafers, and poor light extraction of GaN-based LEDs. Here, we suggest a new growth strategy for high efficiency LEDs by incorporating silica hollow nanospheres (S-HNS). In this strategy, S-HNSs were introduced as a monolayer on a sapphire substrate and the subsequent growth of GaN by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition results in improved crystal quality due to nano-scale lateral epitaxial overgrowth. Moreover, well-defined voids embedded at the GaN/sapphire interface help scatter lights effectively for improved light extraction, and reduce wafer bowing due to partial alleviation of compressive stress in GaN. The incorporation of S-HNS into LEDs is thus quite advantageous in achieving high efficiency LEDs for solid-state lighting.

Improving mechanical fatigue resistance by optimizing the nanoporous structure of inkjet-printed Ag electrodes for flexible devices

The development of highly conductive metallic electrodes with long-term reliability is in great demand for real industrialization of flexible electronics, which undergo repeated mechanical deformation during service. In the case of vacuum-deposited metallic electrodes, adequate conductivity is provided, but it degrades gradually during cyclic mechanical deformation. Here, we demonstrate a long-term reliable Ag electrode by inkjet printing. The electrical conductivity and the mechanical reliability during cyclic bending are investigated with respect to the nanoporous microstructure caused by post heat treatment, and are compared to those of evaporated Ag films of the same thickness. It is shown that there is an optimized nanoporous microstructure for inkjet-printed Ag films, which provides a high conductivity and improved reliability. It is argued that the nanoporous microstructure ensures connectivity within the particle network and at the same time reduces plastic deformation and the formation of fatigue damage. This concept provides a new guideline to develop an efficient method for highly conductive and reliable metallic electrodes for flexible electronics.

Face-centered-cubic lithium crystals formed in mesopores of carbon nanofiber electrodes.

In the foreseeable future, there will be a sharp increase in the demand for flexible Li-ion batteries. One of the most important components of such batteries will be a freestanding electrode, because the traditional electrodes are easily damaged by repeated deformations. The mechanical sustainability of carbon-based freestanding electrodes subjected to repeated electrochemical reactions with Li ions is investigated via nanotensile tests of individual hollow carbon nanofibers (HCNFs). Surprisingly, the mechanical properties of such electrodes are improved by repeated electrochemical reactions with Li ions, which is contrary to the conventional wisdom that the mechanical sustainability of carbon-based electrodes should be degraded by repeated electrochemical reactions. Microscopic studies reveal a reinforcing mechanism behind this improvement, namely, that inserted Li ions form irreversible face-centered-cubic (FCC) crystals within HCNF cavities, which can reinforce the carbonaceous matrix as strong second-phase particles. These FCC Li crystals formed within the carbon matrix create tremendous potential for HCNFs as freestanding electrodes for flexible batteries, but they also contribute to the irreversible (and thus low) capacity of HCNFs.

Hydrodynamic assembly of conductive nanomesh of single-walled carbon nanotubes using biological glue

A hydrodynamic phenomenon is used to assemble a large-scale conductive nanomesh of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with exceptional control of the nanostructure. This is accomplished by a biological material with nanoscale features and a strong binding affinity toward SWNTs. The biological material also presents a unique glue effect for the assembly. Unprecedented material characteristics are observed for the nanomesh.