Robust transparent conducting electrode based on silver nanowire coating on polyelectrolytes multilayers

Abstract

Transparent conductive electrodes were fabricated by the deposition of silver nanowires (AgNW) on various substrates modified by the deposition of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) as primer. The PEM primer films were coated on the glass substrate by the sequential deposition of 7 or 8 layers of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(styrene sulfonate) to improve the adhesion of AgNW and produce flexible transparent conducting electrode. AgNW, with a diameter of 20–30 nm and 10–30 µm in length, were synthesized using a modified solvothermal method using glycerol and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as reducing and capping agent. The physicochemical properties of the AgNW coated PEM were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and field emission scanning electron microscope. The electrical conductivity of the layer was measured by 4 points probe and a standard scotch tape peeling test was used to investigate the stability of the coated AgNW on the PEM. The PEM 7 layers (with PDADMAC as outer layer) gave the best results to immobilize AgNW with the lowest sheet resistance (14 Ω/square) while maintaining excellent transparency (85% transmission at 550 nm) even after up to 6 peeling test cycles. Finally, to demonstrate the benefit of this method, poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheet was coated with PEM primer and AgNW to produce flexible transparent conducting electrode.