Predictive Modeling of Optical and Electrical Coupling in Silver Nanowire Networks for Stretchable Transparent Electrodes

Abstract

Metal nanowires, particularly silver nanowires (AgNWs), have been extensively used in transparent electrodes and substrates requiring high optical transmittance, as well as in flexible and stretchable electronic devices, owing to their intrinsic material properties. These include the ability to maintain electrical conductivity under mechanical deformation. The optical/electrical performance of such systems is primarily governed by the percolation behavior among individual nanowires within a two-dimensional (2D) conductive network. In this study, we propose a theoretical approach to elucidate the relationship between sheet resistance and optical transmittance of AgNW networks, as a function of nanowire dimensions and network density. Furthermore, considering the broad application of AgNWs in stretchable electrodes, we present a model to predict changes in sheet resistance and optical transmittance under uniaxial/biaxial strain, assuming an ideal elastic substrate. The proposed model offers design guidelines for optimizing the optical and electrical properties of AgNW-based stretchable conductors.