Abstract
Transparent conducting electrodes (TCE) are widely used in a variety of applications including displays, light-emitting diodes (LEDS), and solar cells. An important factor in TCE design is active control of the sheet resistance and transparency; as these are inversely proportional, it is essential to develop a technology that can maintain high transparency, while actively controlling sheet resistance, for a range of applications. Here, a nanofiber network was fabricated based on direct electrospinning onto a three-dimensional (3-D) complex substrate; flat metal electrodes without junction resistance were produced using heat treatment and electroless deposition. The fabricated transparent electrode exhibited a transparency of over 90% over the entire visible light range and a sheet resistance of 4.9 ohms/sq. Adhesion between the electrode and substrate was superior to other electrospinning-based transparent electrodes. The performance of the transparent electrode was verified by measurements taken while using the electrode as a heater; a maximum temperature of 210 °C was achieved. The proposed copper nanofiber-based heater electrode offers the advantages of transparency as well as application to complex 3-D surfaces.
Highlights
A heater application with electrodes fabricated using a similar technique[9]
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM images showed that the shape of the nanofiber was completely flat without defects at the junction; the 2-D shape differed from those of cylindrical nanofibers fabricated in previous studies
These results indicate that the nanofiber dimensions and morphology can be successfully controlled through the solution process, and that the fabricated nanofiber network is a 2-D structure with no junction resistance
Summary
The overlap between two nanofibers that could cause junction resistance was observed along with a 2-D morphology; there was no difference in height between conducting nanofibers, unlike the studies of transparent electrodes fabricated using conventional electrospinning and electroless deposition[19]. The analysis results of nanowire thickness with respect to synthesis time from AFM measurements is shown in Fig. 2G; the thickness was proportional to the synthesis time, and the average growth rate was 15.6 nm/min These results indicate that the nanofiber dimensions and morphology can be successfully controlled through the solution process, and that the fabricated nanofiber network is a 2-D structure with no junction resistance. The transparent electrode fabrication technique proposed in this study is a very uniform and reliable method These results demonstrate the potential for large-area, mass production with guaranteed mechanical strength for practical industrial applications. A uniform high-temperature region formed between the two electrodes, after a voltage of 5 V was applied,
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