Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes
We herein report the effect of the viscosity of a prepolymer solution on the thickness uniformity of silver-nanowire-embedded flexible transparent electrodes. We adopted a model system with all the prepolymer solutions possessing identical physical properties except for the viscosity and then explor...
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/7/2202 |
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| author | Moonsoo Chae Dongwook Ko Yoohan Ma Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Hyeon-Ju Oh Jongbok Kim |
| author_facet | Moonsoo Chae Dongwook Ko Yoohan Ma Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Hyeon-Ju Oh Jongbok Kim |
| author_sort | Moonsoo Chae |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We herein report the effect of the viscosity of a prepolymer solution on the thickness uniformity of silver-nanowire-embedded flexible transparent electrodes. We adopted a model system with all the prepolymer solutions possessing identical physical properties except for the viscosity and then explored the most common prepolymer solutions for silver-nanowire-embedded flexible electrodes. In all experiments, single-step spin coating was conducted to coat the prepolymer solution on silver nanowires. We found that the electrodes were thinner for lower viscosity. However, the thickness ratio between the center and edge was comparable (50−60%) and independent of the prepolymer solution viscosity. This indicates that the viscosity does not determine the thickness uniformity, and that the coating method itself is vital to obtain films with uniform thickness. The flexible electrodes were introduced into organic solar cells. Their device performance was comparable regardless of the position of the electrodes and their thickness. This is because the thickness difference of the flexible electrodes did not affect their transmittance significantly. Thus, we conclude that although different coating approaches are needed to obtain flexible electrodes with high uniformity, the performance of optoelectronic devices on silver-nanowire-embedded flexible electrodes is independent of them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:57:18Z |
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| id | doaj.art-c033503f49494fbf85ac2321b4a5d9ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:57:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c033503f49494fbf85ac2321b4a5d9ef2022-12-22T00:16:42ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-03-01107220210.3390/app10072202app10072202Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent ElectrodesMoonsoo Chae0Dongwook Ko1Yoohan Ma2Sungjin Jo3Dong Choon Hyun4Hyeon-Ju Oh5Jongbok Kim6Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, KoreaSchool of Architectural, Civil, Environmental, and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaDepartment of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaAdvanced Materials Research Center, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, KoreaWe herein report the effect of the viscosity of a prepolymer solution on the thickness uniformity of silver-nanowire-embedded flexible transparent electrodes. We adopted a model system with all the prepolymer solutions possessing identical physical properties except for the viscosity and then explored the most common prepolymer solutions for silver-nanowire-embedded flexible electrodes. In all experiments, single-step spin coating was conducted to coat the prepolymer solution on silver nanowires. We found that the electrodes were thinner for lower viscosity. However, the thickness ratio between the center and edge was comparable (50−60%) and independent of the prepolymer solution viscosity. This indicates that the viscosity does not determine the thickness uniformity, and that the coating method itself is vital to obtain films with uniform thickness. The flexible electrodes were introduced into organic solar cells. Their device performance was comparable regardless of the position of the electrodes and their thickness. This is because the thickness difference of the flexible electrodes did not affect their transmittance significantly. Thus, we conclude that although different coating approaches are needed to obtain flexible electrodes with high uniformity, the performance of optoelectronic devices on silver-nanowire-embedded flexible electrodes is independent of them.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/7/2202silver nanowirepolymer viscosityembeddingflexible electrodethickness uniformity |
| spellingShingle | Moonsoo Chae Dongwook Ko Yoohan Ma Sungjin Jo Dong Choon Hyun Hyeon-Ju Oh Jongbok Kim Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes Applied Sciences silver nanowire polymer viscosity embedding flexible electrode thickness uniformity |
| title | Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes |
| title_full | Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes |
| title_fullStr | Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes |
| title_short | Thickness Uniformity Dependence on Polymer Viscosity in Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Flexible and Transparent Electrodes |
| title_sort | thickness uniformity dependence on polymer viscosity in silver nanowire embedded flexible and transparent electrodes |
| topic | silver nanowire polymer viscosity embedding flexible electrode thickness uniformity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/7/2202 |
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