Wetting-Induced Fabrication of Graphene Hybrid with Conducting Polymers for High-Performance Flexible Transparent Electrodes

Abstract

Graphene has attracted extensive attention for the supply of electrically conductive, optically transparent, and mechanical robust electrodes for flexible optoelectrical devices, as an alternative to commercial indium tin oxide, due to its superior mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. However, conventional chemical vapor deposition is impeded by harsh conditions and complicated processes, and it is still a challenge to fabricate high-performance graphene transparent electrode in a facile and scalable solution-processable route. Herein, a wetting-induced scalable solution-processable approach to fabricate graphene hybrid with conductive ionogel and poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly­(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), i.e., graphene/ionogel@PEDOT:PSS (G/Ionogel@PEDOT:PSS), for high-performance flexible transparent electrode (FTE) is reported, achieving a low sheet resistance of 30 Ω sq–1 and a high transmittance of 88% at 550 nm. The as-fabricated trinary hybrid FTE as both transparent electrode and electrochromic layer is applied to a compact indium tin oxide (ITO)-free three-layered flexible electrochromic device, showing fast switching response, good electrochromic contrast, and reliable stability. Our work enables a scalable solution-processable approach for the generation of graphene-based FTE and functional devices.

Cobweb-Inspired Quintuple Network Structures toward High-Performance Wearable Electrochromic Devices with Excellent Bending Resistance

“…Among them, the Δ T values of FECD-5Nets and FECD-4Nets retain high optical modulation of more than 60% and high Δ T retention of about 95% compared with the initial optical modulations. Although there is still a small gap with few reported ECDs, the FECD-5Nets show good comprehensive performance compared with most of the reported organic-based wearable ECDs in the last 4 years (Figure e). − …”

Advances in Flexible Optoelectronics Based on Chemical Vapor Deposition‐Grown Graphene

“…proposed a wetting‐induced scalable solution‐processable approach to fabricate a hybrid film of graphene with conductive ionogel and PEDOT:PSS. [ 80 ] The graphene/ionogel@PEDOT:PSS hybrid film achieved a low R sh of 30 Ω sq −1 and a high Tr of 88%@550 nm wavelength (Figure 8e,f). At the same time, it showed the low surface roughness as well as good flexibility that nearly no change after bending 1500 times.…”

“…The red star in (f) means the performance of G/ionogel@PEDOT:PSS trinary hybrid film, which was superior to pristine graphene and ITO films on PET substrate. e,f) Reproduced with permission [80]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society.…”

Recent Developments in Flexible Transparent Electrode

“…In order to further understand the interface behavior of composites, Cui et al simulated the contact behavior of CNTs and AgNWs at the atomic scale using molecular dynamics simulations, which showed that the CNTs and AgNWs move toward each other and then form a complete interfacial arrangement [121]. Ma et al prepared graphene/ionic gel @PEDOT:PSS using a solution treatment, which was applied as a transparent electrode to obtain a low thin layer resistance of 30 Ω•sq −1 and a high transmittance of 88% [122]. Kim et al reported a way to improve the electrical conductivity of graphene by doping it with metal selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) (Figure 10).…”