Robust ZTO-reinforced Ag nanowire hybrid transparent conductive thin films with absorption-enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding property

Abstract

Evolving technology advancements has accelerated the pursuit of transparent conducting thin films (TCF) with superior mechanical properties, durability, efficient opto-electrical performance and substrate compatibility as a pivotal focus in the realm of flexible transparent electronics. With this concern, this work delves the fabrication of multilayer silver nanowire (AgNW) thin films reinforced by zinc tin oxide (ZTO) thin film encapsulation on polycarbonate substrates by the combination of sputtering and spin-coating techniques. Investigation on the influence of AgNW percolation networks on the opto-electrical properties of ZTO/AgNW/ZTO hybrid thin films was carried out. The impact of ZTO protective layers on the enhancement of electrical properties, adhesivity, flexibility and environmental stability of the multilayer TCF was elucidated. Additionally, to explore the compatibility of the fabricated TCF in integrated device and stealth applications, its electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding property was investigated. The hybrid TCF showed 99.47% EMI shielding efficiency with absorption-dominant EMI shielding effectiveness of 22.7 dB in the x-band region.