Issue 19, 2014

Flexible transparent conductive films on PET substrates with an AZO/AgNW/AZO sandwich structure

Abstract

Hybrid transparent conductive films (TCFs) with a sandwich structure composed of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and Ag nanowires (AgNWs) were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The AZO layers were prepared at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering. The AgNWs were synthesized by a modified polyol method and inserted into the AZO layers. The optical properties and conductivity can be modified by the number of spin-coating cycles of an AgNWs suspension. Typically, an AZO/AgNW/AZO hybrid film exhibited an optical transmittance of 80.5%, a sheet resistance of 27.6 Ω sq−1 and an optical haze of 14.9%. The increase in optical haze caused by the silver nanowires may be beneficial for applications in solar cells. The hybrid films presented excellent flexible stability, showing only minor resistance changes and no surface cracks compared with pure AZO films. The AZO layers acted as the protecting layers that enhanced the adhesive and thermal stability of the hybrid films. The resulting hybrid TCFs with an AZO/AgNW/AZO sandwich structure show potential applications in flexible electronics, energy storage and photovoltaic devices.

Graphical abstract: Flexible transparent conductive films on PET substrates with an AZO/AgNW/AZO sandwich structure

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Dec 2013
Accepted
25 Feb 2014
First published
26 Feb 2014

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 3750-3755

Flexible transparent conductive films on PET substrates with an AZO/AgNW/AZO sandwich structure

Q. Xu, W. Shen, Q. Huang, Y. Yang, R. Tan, K. Zhu, N. Dai and W. Song, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 3750 DOI: 10.1039/C3TC32554G

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