Highly conductive, soft, and 3D-printable nanocomposite polymers have been developed that consists of poly (ionic liquid) (PIL), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as polymeric system, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as fillers and an ionic liquid (IL) that acts as a plasticizer and dopant for the MWCNTs. The nanocomposites exhibited variable mechanical, conductive, and thermal properties depending on the composition of polymer, IL, and MWCNTs. Finally, we optimized the conditions for 3D printing and demonstrated the fabrication of a flexible, 3D-printed circuit, which can be bent and twisted without damaging the circuit.
- Kumkum Ahmed
- Masaru Kawakami
- Hidemitsu Furukawa