Functional Electroconductive Coatings Obtained by Magnetron Sputtering Technology For Applications in Smart TEXTILE

Abstract

In this paper, the metallic layers in the form of electrically conductive tracks were created on polymeric substrates, including textile substrates such as woven fabric, knitted fabric and nonwoven fabrics, using the Physical Vapor Deposition method known as magnetron sputtering. The layer deposition process was carried out under high vacuum conditions in a Classic 500 Pfeiffer Vacuum sputtering chamber. After the deposition process, the electrical conductivity of the produced coatings was examined, and subsequently, the samples underwent usability tests. The materials produced in this way can be used as components of wearable electronics. The use of magnetron sputtering enables precise and, importantly, repeatable deposition of thin layers even on textile surfaces that are challenging to coat which may be significant for the further development of advanced wearable electronics technologies and smart materials.