Organic-inorganic hybrid layer-by-layer (LBL) composite structures can not only increase the strength and ductility of materials but also well disperse nanomaterials for better-conducting pathways. Here, we discovered the self-assembly process of an organic and silver (Ag) LBL hybrid structure having excellent sustainability during the long-term bending cycle. During the assembly process, the organic and Ag hybrid structure can be self-assembled into a layered structure. Unlike other conventional LBL fabrication processes, we applied the hydrogel scaffold of a biological polymer, which can spontaneously phase separate into an LBL structure in a water/alcohol solvent system. This new hydrogel-based Ag LBL patterns can successfully be printed on a flexible polyimide film without nozzle-clogging problem. Although these Ag LBL patterns cracked during the bending cycle, carbonized organic compounds between the Ag layers help to self-heal within few minutes at a low temperature (<80 °C). On the basis of our new hydrogel-based Ag ink, we could fabricate a fully printed reliable microscale flexible heater. We expect that our self-layering phenomenon can expand to the broad research field of flexible electronics in the near future.
Keywords: flexible printed electronics; layer-by-layer structure; organic/inorganic composite; self-healing; silver nanoparticles.