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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
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Scalable Solution-processed Fabrication Strategy for High-performance, Flexible, Transparent Electrodes with Embedded Metal Mesh
Published on: June 23, 2017
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High-performance transparent metal mesh electrodes utilizing a metal-vapor-desorption layer for organic
Dahyun Kim1,2, Sujin Jeong1,2, Dong Keon Lee1,2
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea. yongtaek@snu.ac.kr.
Materials Horizons
|April 9, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel method for creating transparent metal mesh electrodes for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). This technique offers high transparency and conductivity without damaging sensitive organic layers, improving device performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Electronics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) are crucial for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), especially for transparent and flexible applications.
- Conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) TCEs are brittle and their fabrication can harm organic layers.
- Existing alternatives face challenges like low conductivity and solvent compatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a direct patterning strategy for top transparent metal mesh electrodes.
- To overcome the limitations of conventional TCEs and alternative approaches.
- To enable fabrication of high-performance, flexible, and transparent OLEDs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the metal desorption of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP).
- Employed a direct patterning strategy combined with a transfer printing method.
- Thermally evaporated silver onto patterned PVDF-HFP layers to create metal mesh electrodes.
Main Results:
- Fabricated metal mesh electrodes with high optical transmittance and low sheet resistance.
- Achieved a maximum figure of merit exceeding 10^4, indicating excellent electrical and optical properties.
- Demonstrated direct integration onto sensitive organic layers without solvents or lamination.
- Developed top cathodes for OLEDs with performance comparable to conventional electrodes.
Conclusions:
- The novel direct patterning strategy offers a promising route for fabricating advanced TCEs.
- This method provides a solvent-free, damage-free approach for integrating TCEs into OLEDs.
- The developed metal mesh electrodes are suitable for high-performance transparent and flexible electronic devices.
