Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress
Flexible transparent electrodes are integral to the advancement of flexible optoelectronic devices such as flexible displays and solar cells. However, indium tin oxide (ITO), a traditional material used in transparent electrodes, exhibits a significant increase in resistance under mechanical stress,...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/1/420 |
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| author | Yoohan Ma Geon Woo Sim Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Jae-Seung Roh Dongwook Ko Jongbok Kim |
| author_facet | Yoohan Ma Geon Woo Sim Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Jae-Seung Roh Dongwook Ko Jongbok Kim |
| author_sort | Yoohan Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flexible transparent electrodes are integral to the advancement of flexible optoelectronic devices such as flexible displays and solar cells. However, indium tin oxide (ITO), a traditional material used in transparent electrodes, exhibits a significant increase in resistance under mechanical stress, which limits the long-term stability of flexible devices. Here, we prepare various types of silver nanowire (AgNW)-based transparent electrodes and investigate their stability in terms of electrical resistance and optical transmittance under compressive and tensile stresses. Under compressive stress, ITO on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate exhibits a significantly high electrical resistance of >3000 Ω after 1000 stress cycles, while the AgNW-coated electrode on a PET film exhibits a relatively smaller resistance of <1200 Ω. The AgNW-embedded electrode in a UV-curable polymer matrix (NOA63 or NOA71) exhibits an even lower electrical resistance of <450 Ω because AgNWs can easily maintain their network. A similar trend is observed under tensile stress. The AgNW-embedded electrode shows the highest resistance stability, whereas the ITO on the PET substrate shows the poorest stability. The optical transmittance is comparable regardless of the type of stress or electrode used. This superior stability of the AgNW-based electrodes, realized by integrating it with a polymer matrix, is promising for the development of durable and high-performance flexible optoelectronic devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:11:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a88da32b1fec4bb7aa52f33047c19831 |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:11:12Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a88da32b1fec4bb7aa52f33047c198312024-01-10T14:52:05ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-01-0114142010.3390/app14010420Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical StressYoohan Ma0Geon Woo Sim1Sungjin Jo2Dong Choon Hyun3Jae-Seung Roh4Dongwook Ko5Jongbok Kim6Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of KoreaSchool of Architectural, Civil, Environmental, and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of KoreaFlexible transparent electrodes are integral to the advancement of flexible optoelectronic devices such as flexible displays and solar cells. However, indium tin oxide (ITO), a traditional material used in transparent electrodes, exhibits a significant increase in resistance under mechanical stress, which limits the long-term stability of flexible devices. Here, we prepare various types of silver nanowire (AgNW)-based transparent electrodes and investigate their stability in terms of electrical resistance and optical transmittance under compressive and tensile stresses. Under compressive stress, ITO on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate exhibits a significantly high electrical resistance of >3000 Ω after 1000 stress cycles, while the AgNW-coated electrode on a PET film exhibits a relatively smaller resistance of <1200 Ω. The AgNW-embedded electrode in a UV-curable polymer matrix (NOA63 or NOA71) exhibits an even lower electrical resistance of <450 Ω because AgNWs can easily maintain their network. A similar trend is observed under tensile stress. The AgNW-embedded electrode shows the highest resistance stability, whereas the ITO on the PET substrate shows the poorest stability. The optical transmittance is comparable regardless of the type of stress or electrode used. This superior stability of the AgNW-based electrodes, realized by integrating it with a polymer matrix, is promising for the development of durable and high-performance flexible optoelectronic devices.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/1/420silver nanowireflexible electrodeelectrical resistancecompressive stresstensile stress |
| spellingShingle | Yoohan Ma Geon Woo Sim Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Jae-Seung Roh Dongwook Ko Jongbok Kim Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress Applied Sciences silver nanowire flexible electrode electrical resistance compressive stress tensile stress |
| title | Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress |
| title_full | Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress |
| title_fullStr | Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress |
| title_short | Stability of Silver-Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent Electrodes under Mechanical Stress |
| title_sort | stability of silver nanowire based flexible transparent electrodes under mechanical stress |
| topic | silver nanowire flexible electrode electrical resistance compressive stress tensile stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/1/420 |
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