Bioinspired Metal Mesh Structure with Significant Electrical and Optical Properties

Abstract

Abstract1D metal network is one of the promising alternatives of the conventional transparent conducting electrode (TCE) viz ITO/FTO. Bioinspired fabrication of junction resistance free metal grid structures is explored for their TCE applications. The leaf‐based metal grid electrodes exhibit low DC resistivity (10−5–10−4 Ω cm) and high optical transparency (80–90%) in the visible spectrum. The leaf vein structures are varied to obtain better optoelectronic properties. Finally, a multilayered stacked structure (SnO2‐Ag‐Au‐SnO2) is deposited on a poly ethyl terephthalate substrate and low‐ to high‐temperature electrical stability is demonstrated. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results are used to investigate the structural study of the leaf‐based 1D structure. A minimal variation in Rs values is seen even after 1000 times bending for the flexible transparent structure. It is demonstrated that the specific leaf vein–based metal structures can attain good optical, electrical, and mechanical performance.