Advances in flexible transparent conductive films based on carbon nanomaterials

Abstract

With the development of electronic devices, more and more flexible products are being used in our daily lives. As a very important component of photoelectric devices, transparent conductive films (TCFs) are now faced with the challenge of exhibiting flexibility. The commercial transparent conductive material indium tin oxide (ITO) is expensive and brittle, so an increasing number of researchers are focusing on finding new transparent conductive materials as substitutes. Carbon nanomaterials have high electron mobility, low light absorption, outstanding flexibility, ready availability and can be fabricated by various methods, which makes them competitive materials for flexible transparent conductive films (f-TCFs). In this review, we summarize research on f-TCFs based on carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. Material synthesis, performance modification and the routes used to fabricate f-TCFs are evaluated. Finally, the current limitations of these materials and probable research directions are briefly discussed.