Abstract
ABSTRACT We investigated a flexible and transparent conductive electrode (FTCE) based on Ag nanowires (AgNWs) and a graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet and fabricated through a simple and cost-effective spray coating method. The AgNWs/GO hybrid FTCE was optimized by adjusting the nozzle-to-substrate distance, spray speed, compressor pressure, and volume of the GO solution. The optimal AgNWs/GO hybrid FTCE has a high transmittance of 88% at a wavelength of 550 nm and a low sheet resistance of 20 Ohm/square. We demonstrate the presence of the GO nanosheet on the AgNWs through Raman spectroscopy. Using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we confirmed that the nanosheet acted as a conducting bridge between AgNWs and improved the surface morphology and roughness of the electrode. Effective coverage by the GO sheet improved the conductivity of the AgNWs electrode Effective coverage of the GO sheet improved conductivity of the AgNWs electrode with minimum degradation of optical and mechanical properties. Flexible thin film heater (TFH) and electroluminescent (EL) devices fabricated on AgNWs/GO hybrid FTCEs showed better performance than devices on bare AgNWs electrodes due to lower sheet resistance and uniform conductivity. In addition, an AgNWs/GO electrode layer on a facial mask acts as a self-heating and antibacterial coating. A facial mask with an AgNWs/GO electrode showed a bacteriostatic reduction rate of 99.7 against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia.
Highlights
A flexible and transparent conductive electrode (FTCE) is a thin film with high transparency, high conductivity, and outstanding flexibility [1,2,3]
In con sequence, the Ag nanowires (AgNWs) TCE was optimized through measurement of the transmittance, sheet resistance, and figure of merit (FoM) values according to changes in the nozzle-to-substrate distance, spray speed, and compressor pressure, which have a major effect on the reproducibility and properties of the electrode
In order to fabricate a high-performance cost-effective FTCE, a AgNWs/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid film deposited through a simple spray coating process was applied to flexible devices to show the feasibility of the AgNWs/GO elec trode
Summary
A flexible and transparent conductive electrode (FTCE) is a thin film with high transparency, high conductivity, and outstanding flexibility [1,2,3]. An AgNWs film with an irregularly connected network has been applied in flexible electronics and wearable devices due to its high conductivity, low sheet resistance, good flexibility and simple solution-based coating pro cess [44,45,46]. Optimization of the AgNWs/GO hybrid FTCE proceeded by maintaining the high transmittance of the AgNWs and improving the conductivity and surface properties of the electrode by controlling the spray volume of the GO solution. Successful operation of the flexible TFH and EL devices and antibacterial facial mask indicates that the AgNWs/ GO hybrid electrode is a promising substitute for ITO electrodes and solves the critical problems associated with both AgNWs and GO nanosheets
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