Conduction mode transition in Ag nanowire–mesh hybrid electrodes by junction welding for high-performance transparent conductive electrodes

Abstract

While hybrid transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) that combine silver nanowires (Ag NWs) with metal mesh frameworks have emerged as promising alternatives to other transparent electrode materials such as carbon-based materials, conductive polymers, and indium tin oxide (ITO), their performance remains constrained by high contact resistance at junctions between NWs and metal mesh interfaces. This study demonstrates that thermal welding at 200 °C for 10 min both reduces the contact resistance and fundamentally alters the conduction behavior of Ag mesh/Ag NW hybrid electrodes from a percolative regime to a bulk-like regime. This transition shifts the dominant factor governing the figure of merit (FoM) from sheet resistance to optical transmittance. As a result, even with a minimal Ag NW concentration, the welded hybrid electrodes achieve a sheet resistance of 7 Ω sq⁻¹, a transmittance of 86.1% at 550 nm, and an FoM of 373, thereby rivaling commercial ITO. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the mesh density and Ag NW coverage reveals distinct conduction sensitivities depending on pitch. These findings highlight the potential of contact-engineered conduction mode switching as a design principle for high-efficiency, low-cost TCEs, offering a scalable pathway toward next-generation optoelectronic and flexible devices.