Graphene as an anti-permeation and protective layer for indium-free transparent electrodes

We show that graphene can be used as a protective layer for transparent electrodes made of materials which would otherwise deteriorate when exposed to the environment. In particular, we investigate aluminum-doped zinc oxides and ultrathin copper films capped with a one-atom graphene layer in damp heat (95% relative humidity and 95 °C) and high temperature (up to 180 °C) conditions. The results clearly indicate that a graphene layer can strongly reduce degradation of the electrodes' electrical, optical properties and surface morphology, thus preserving the functionality of the transparent electrodes. The proposed technique is particularly suitable for flexible optoelectronic devices thanks to the mechanical strength of graphene when subjected to bending.