Abstract
We developed effective passivation method of flexible Ag nanowire (NW) network electrodes using transparent tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) film prepared by filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) coating. Even at room temperature process of FCVA, the ta-C passivation layer effectively protect Ag NW network electrode and improved the ambient stability of Ag NW network without change of sheet resistance of Ag NW network. In addition, ta-C coated Ag NW electrode showed identical critical inner and outer bending radius to bare Ag NW due to the thin thickness of ta-C passivation layer. The time-temperature profiles demonstrate that the performance of the transparent and flexible thin film heater (TFH) with the ta-C/Ag NW network is better than that of a TFH with Ag NW electrodes due to thermal stability of FCVA grown ta-C layer. In addition, the transparent and flexible TFHs with ta-C/Ag NW showed robustness against external force due to its high hardness and wear resistance. This indicates that the FCVA coated ta-C is promising passivation and protective layer for chemically weak Ag NW network electrodes against sulfur in ambient.
Highlights
Ag nanowire (NW) percolating network electrodes coated on flexible substrate has been extensively investigated as a promising replacement of high-cost and brittle indium tin oxide (ITO) films in flexible optoelectronics due to its solution-based simple printing process, low-cost ambient coating process, low resistivity, and high transmittance[1,2,3,4]
We demonstrated that highly stable Ag NW electrode passivated by transparent tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) layer for high performance transparent and flexible thin film heater (TFH)
The thickness effect of filtered cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) coated ta-C film on the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of Ag NW electrode was investigated in detail to optimize the thickness of the ta-C layer
Summary
Ag nanowire (NW) percolating network electrodes coated on flexible substrate has been extensively investigated as a promising replacement of high-cost and brittle indium tin oxide (ITO) films in flexible optoelectronics due to its solution-based simple printing process, low-cost ambient coating process, low resistivity, and high transmittance[1,2,3,4]. Films have been grown using a wide variety of process including filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA)-direct and pulsed source, pulsed laser ablation, mass selected ion beam deposition, and electron cyclotron wave resonance processes[31,32,33,34,35] Among those techniques, the FCVA coated ta-C films has been known as an excellent coating materials for mechanical parts due to their interesting properties caused by high sp[3] contents such as low friction coefficient (
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