Patterned, Flexible, and Stretchable Silver Nanowire/Polymer Composite Films as Transparent Conductive Electrodes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Conventional transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs), like indium tin oxide, are brittle and unsuitable for flexible electronics.
• Emerging flexible and stretchable optoelectronics demand TCEs with high transparency, conductivity, low cost, solution processability, smooth surfaces, and scalable patterning.
• Silver nanowires (AgNWs) show promise but rarely meet all six critical requirements simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a straightforward method for fabricating AgNW-based TCEs that satisfy all six essential characteristics for flexible and stretchable optoelectronics.
• To create AgNW/polymer composite films that overcome the limitations of existing TCEs.

Main Methods:

• A solution-based wetting-dewetting protocol was used to pattern a silver nanowire (AgNW) network.
• The patterned AgNW network was embedded into a flexible or stretchable polymer.
• The composite film was adhered to a poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrate.

Main Results:

• The fabricated AgNW/polymer composite films achieved approximately 85% transmittance and an average sheet resistance of ~15 Ω/sq.
• The TCEs exhibited a smooth surface with a root-mean-square roughness of ~22 nm.
• The films demonstrated excellent mechanical flexibility, withstanding up to 71% bending strain and 70% stretching strain.

Conclusions:

• The developed AgNW/polymer composite films successfully meet all six critical requirements for advanced TCEs.
• These novel TCEs enable the fabrication of high-performance flexible and stretchable alternating current electroluminescent devices.
• The fabrication method offers a scalable and cost-effective solution for next-generation optoelectronic applications.