Non-vacuum fabrication of conductive, mechanochemically stable, flexible Ni–Cu alloy electrodes with customizable composition ratios via laser digital patterning

Abstract

Nickel–Copper (Ni–Cu) alloys exhibit considerable potential for various applications, leveraging the synergistic advantages of both Ni and Cu elements. This study introduces a rapid, effective method for creating Ni–Cu alloy electrodes via the laser digital patterning process. Diverse shapes of Ni–Cu alloy electrodes were generated on both rigid and flexible substrates with customizable composition ratios by modulating the ratios of CuOx to NiOx nanoparticle inks. The electrodes exhibited 2–4 times lower resistivities than the Ni electrode, along with superior thermal oxidation stability (up to 400 °C), excellent corrosion resistance (over 3 h in tap water and seawater), and remarkable long-term stability (over nine months in ambient air). Moreover, the transparent flexible Ni–Cu heater, with a low sheet resistance (21.4 Ω/sq) and high transmittance (85 %) demonstrated excellent mechanical bending resistance, and maintained a uniform temperature distribution at 235 °C for 2 h.