Meet the nanoInk partner INM

Meet the nanoInk partner Leibniz-Institute for New Materials at the conference and exhibition "The Future of Electronics RESHAPED" (21 & 22 OCT 2026, Estrel Congress Centre, Berlin): 

Christoph Kaiser presents screen-printable hybrid conductive inks for stretchable temperature sensing and heating, based on a hybrid metal–carbon filler network in a stretchable matrix. Characterized from 20 to 120 °C under repeated thermal and mechanical cycling, optimized formulations show a linear resistance response with temperature coefficients enabling thermal sensing or active temperature control even after tens of thousands of strain cycles — a versatile platform for textiles, medical applications like smart wound dressings, and soft robotics.

Abstract

Stretchable temperature sensors and temperature responsive heater elements are essential components for emerging applications such as wearable health monitoring, textile heating applications or soft robotics. For these uses, sensors must combine reliable thermal sensitivity with mechanical robustness under repeated deformation. We will show screen-printable hybrid conductive inks for stretchable temperature sensing and heating based on a hybrid filler network in a stretchable matrix and first prototypes how they can be applied.

Results show unique long-term behaviour of the inks. The printed composites were characterized in the temperature range from 20 to 120 °C and under repeated thermal and mechanical cycling. Optimized formulations showed a linear resistance response to temperature, with temperature coefficients, that allow for thermal sensing in case of sensor elements, or active temperature control for controlled heating solutions even at several tens of thousands strain cycles.

These results highlight the potential of hybrid metal–carbon inks as a versatile platform for robust, printable temperature sensors and heating that can be integrated into deformable electronic systems in textiles or can be used as stretchable sensing components in medical applications like smart wound dressing.

Links

• Event Link: https://www.techblick.com/electronicsreshaped 
• About the Leibniz-Institute for New Materials (INM)