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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
07:50
A Fabrication Method for Highly Stretchable Conductors with Silver Nanowires
Published on: January 21, 2016
10.4K
Instrument for evaluating the electrical resistance and wavelength-resolved transparency of stretchable electronics
A D Azar1, E Finley1, K D Harris1
1National Institute for Nanotechnology, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|February 2, 2015
Summary
This study introduces a new apparatus for measuring both electrical conductivity and transparency of stretchable transparent conductors (TCs) under strain. The tool enables comprehensive strain tolerance analysis, crucial for applications like solar cells.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Optics
Background:
- Stretchable transparent conductors (TCs) are vital for flexible electronics.
- Current analyses often neglect transparency changes under strain.
- Comprehensive strain tolerance assessment requires tracking both electrical and optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an apparatus for simultaneously measuring electrical conductivity and transparency of TCs under strain.
- To provide a complete analysis of strain tolerance in TCs.
- To adapt the apparatus for evaluating complete solar cells under strain.
Main Methods:
- Designed and utilized a novel apparatus to deform TCs under stretching-mode strain.
- Simultaneously tracked electrical resistance and light transmission spectra (400-900 nm).
- Implemented an automated analysis routine including a figure of merit (FOM) calculation and solar spectrum weighting.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the apparatus's capability using indium tin oxide-coated plastic substrates under linear and cyclic strain.
- Achieved a time resolution of ~200 ms.
- Introduced and calculated
- solar transparency
- and
- solar FOM
- by correlating results with the solar power spectrum.
Conclusions:
- The developed apparatus provides a comprehensive method for evaluating TC strain tolerance.
- Simultaneous measurement of electrical and optical properties is essential for accurate TC performance assessment.
- The apparatus and derived metrics are valuable for optimizing TCs in solar cell applications and can be adapted for full solar cell testing.
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