Conductive Layers Based on Silver Nanowires by Spray Coating Process

Abstract

In this research, a thin film of silver nanowires (AgNWs) is made by varying the number of layers onto a polycarbonate substrate using a spray coating process. AgNWs were obtained via the polyol method using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as rare materials, Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a reducing agent and ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent. The coating material used is AgNWs solution with a concentration of 10% in ethanol, which has a diameter and length of 176.13 nm and 28.58 �m, respectively. The optical conductivity for third layers were 1.80 � 105 S.m−1,1.98 � 105 S.m−1, and 2.32 � 105 S.m−1 by the gap energy of 3.84 eV, 3.81 eV, and 3.79 eV at a wavelength of 550 nm. The greater the number of layers, the higher the optical conductivity. The smaller energy gap indicates that the material absorbs more energy, so the absorbance value is higher. The sheet resistance of AgNWs thin films in variations of each layer was 119.2 Ω.sq−1, 20.6 Ω.sq−1 and 4.98 Ω.sq−1. The lower the layer resistance, the higher the density of AgNWs and the thicker the layer. Based on the SEM images by cross-section technique, the thickness of AgNWs thin films obtained by 44.244 μm, 69.126 μm, and 100.028 μm for each layer. AgNWs thin films could be used as transparent conductive electrodes for optoelectronic applications.