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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh
Published on: June 23, 2017
Hydrophobic and stretchable Ag nanowire network electrode passivated by a sputtered PTFE layer for self-cleaning
Sang-Mok Lee1, Sung Hyun Kim2, Jae Heung Lee2
1Kyung Hee University, Department of Advanced Materials Engineering for Information and Electronics 1 Seocheon-dong Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do 446-701 Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
We demonstrated hydrophobic, flexible/stretchable, and transparent electrodes made up of Ag nanowire (NW) networks passivated by a sputtered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer to produce self-cleaning transparent thin film heaters (TFHs). Using carbon nanotubes and a PTFE mixed conducting target, we successfully sputtered a transparent PTFE layer on the Ag NW network using mid-frequency magnetron sputtering. The hydrophobic surface of the PTFE/Ag NW electrodes led to water-repelling and self-cleaning transparent Ag NW electrodes, which are beneficial for transparent TFH-based smart windows. Furthermore, hydrophobic PTFE/Ag NW electrodes coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PU) substrates showed outstanding flexibility and stretchability, respectively, due to the capping effect of the PTFE layer. Based on outer/inner bending and stretching test results, we demonstrated the superior mechanical properties of the PTFE/Ag NW electrode compared to a bare Ag NW electrode. Finally, we investigated the feasibility of the PTFE/Ag NW film coated on a PU substrate as a transparent and stretchable electrode for stretchable and self-cleaning transparent TFHs. The effective heat generation of the stretchable PTFE/Ag NW electrode indicates the potential for energy-efficient multi-functional PTFE/Ag NW-based TFHs attached to automobile windows.
