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Recrystallized ice-templated electroless plating for fabricating flexible transparent copper meshes.
Linhai Li1,2, Qingrui Fan1,2, Han Xue1,2
1Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China wangj220@iccas.ac.cn hezy@iccas.ac.cn.
RSC Advances
|May 2, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed flexible transparent copper meshes using a novel ice-crystal templating method. This approach offers tailorable conductivity and transparency, providing a durable alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for electronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a common transparent conductor but has drawbacks like brittleness.
- Flexible transparent conductors are needed as alternatives for flexible electronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, fabrication-free method for creating flexible transparent conductive meshes.
- To demonstrate the tailorable properties and stability of these new conductive materials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of flexible transparent copper meshes using recrystallized ice-crystal templates.
- Controlled ice recrystallization to regulate mesh linewidth and size.
- Testing of electrical performance, transparency, and stability under bending and storage.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated flexible transparent copper meshes without microfabrication or deposition.
- Achieved tailorable conductivity and transparency by controlling ice recrystallization.
- Demonstrated maintained electrical performance after 60 days of storage and 1000 bending cycles.
Conclusions:
- The ice-crystal templating method provides a versatile and efficient route to flexible transparent conductors.
- Copper and silver meshes fabricated using this method are promising, stable alternatives to ITO for optoelectronic applications.
