Laser layered scanning strategy for fractal Ag mesh transparent conductive electrodes using selective laser ablation and its application to transparent heaters

Abstract

In this study, 800 nm-thick silver (Ag) films were deposited on glass substrates via radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Based on a laser layered scanning strategy during selective laser ablation (SLA), periodic (1–4) and pattern-combined (4–9) fractal Ag mesh transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) with two layered mesh thicknesses were prepared to investigate the influences of mesh thickness matching on their optical and electrical properties. The results revealed that constructing the layered mesh thickness by selectively removing the thick Ag layer could enhance the TCE optical transmittance without greatly sacrificing its electrical conductivity. The two kinds of fractal layered Ag mesh TCEs with mesh thickness matching of 800 nm: 500 nm were confirmed to have high performance uniformity, and respectively exhibited the highest figure of merit value of 16.03 × 10–2 Ω−1 and 15.23 × 10–2 Ω−1. Moreover, the best periodic (1–4) fractal layered Ag mesh TCE was adopted to fabricate a transparent heater (TH), which exhibited excellent heating performance (a maximum temperature of 143.1 ℃ with a response time of ∼ 80 s under a lower voltage of 1.3 V), switching cycle stability and deicing ability. The sheet resistance stability of the TH under different test conditions was also demonstrated. This work has a certain reference value for the preparation of high-performance TCEs and THs.