Fabrication of unilateral conductive and transparent polymer thin films decorated with nanomaterials for flexible electrodes

Abstract

Recently, electrically conductive, flexible, and transparent nanocomposite thin films consisting of nanomaterials on insulating polymer layers are of particular interest to scientific and industrial experts and have promising applications in energy, electronic, and environment areas, due to their remarkable properties. In this study, nanomaterials including silver nanowires, reduced graphene oxide, and carbon nanotubes, and also, conducting polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate were embedded onto insulating polyamide 6‐based polymer layer to form unilateral (one‐sided) conductive nanocomposite thin film with advanced optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. Spin coating technique was used to fabricate these flexible, conductive, and transparent thin film layers. Thin conductive films decorated with silver nanowires exhibited sufficiently low sheet resistance of 105 Ω/sq with a transparency of ∼85%. The maximum measured stress and elongation was obtained as 2.24 N/mm2 and 12.5%, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1771–1778, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

Recent Developments in Flexible Transparent Electrode

“…and high optical transmittance (80%), and the electrical conductivity remained stable over 3K bending [117]. In addition, Mahmut et al found that unidirectional conductive transparent films can be prepared by embedding nanomaterials into polymer membranes (Figure 8) [9].…”

“…Zhu et al used a combination of printing, evaporation, and wet etching techniques to produce transparent micromesh electrodes with high conductivity (19.7 Ω•sq −1 ) and high optical transmittance (80%), and the electrical conductivity remained stable over 3K bending [117]. In addition, Mahmut et al found that unidirectional conductive transparent films can be prepared by embedding nanomaterials into polymer membranes (Figure 8) [9]. ) and high optical transmittance (80%), and the electrical conductivity remained stable over 3K bending [117].…”

“…These FTEs have excellent conductivity, optical transmittance, and mechanical properties, and they can be mass-produced. The FTEs reviewed in this article are made of different materials, including metal materials (metal nanowire, ultra-thin metal films, and metal mesh) [6,7], carbon-based materials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene) [3,8], conducting polymers (CPs) [9], and composite materials [10,11]. These various electrode materials all have their own advantages, which make them good options for new-generation FTEs.…”