An Ag-grid/graphene hybrid structure for large-scale, transparent, flexible heaters

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electronics

Background:

• Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a traditional transparent conductor but faces limitations.
• Carbon materials like graphene offer potential alternatives but struggle with conductivity and transparency.
• Developing efficient transparent conductive films is crucial for flexible electronics and displays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create highly transparent and flexible conductive films.
• To overcome the challenges of low sheet resistance and high transmittance in carbon-based materials.
• To explore a hybrid structure combining graphene and silver-grid for enhanced performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hybrid electrode using graphene and an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet-printed silver (Ag) micro-grid.
• Utilizing hot pressing transfer and EHD jet printing in a non-vacuum, maskless, low-temperature process.
• Characterization of the electrical and optical properties of the hybrid conductive films.

Main Results:

• Achieved a hybrid electrode with sheet resistance as low as ~4 Ω per square.
• Obtained an optical transmittance of approximately 78%.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of using the hybrid films for transparent flexible heaters.

Conclusions:

• The graphene-Ag-grid hybrid structure provides an effective and simple route to high-performance transparent conductive films.
• The developed material is suitable for applications requiring flexibility, transparency, and conductivity, such as in vehicles and smart windows.
• This approach offers a promising alternative to traditional transparent conductive materials.