Abstract
We report fabrication of large area Ag nanowire (NW) film coated using a continuous roll-to-roll (RTR) slot die coater as a viable alternative to conventional ITO electrodes for cost-effective and large-area flexible touch screen panels (TSPs). By controlling the flow rate of shear-thinning Ag NW ink in the slot die, we fabricated Ag NW percolating network films with different sheet resistances (30–70 Ohm/square), optical transmittance values (89–90%), and haze (0.5–1%) percentages. Outer/inner bending, twisting, and rolling tests as well as dynamic fatigue tests demonstrated that the mechanical flexibility of the slot-die coated Ag NW films was superior to that of conventional ITO films. Using diamond-shape patterned Ag NW layer electrodes (50 Ohm/square, 90% optical transmittance), we fabricated 12-inch flexible film-film type and rigid glass-film-film type TSPs. Successful operation of flexible TSPs with Ag NW electrodes indicates that slot-die-coated large-area Ag NW films are promising low cost, high performance, and flexible transparent electrodes for cost-effective large-area flexible TSPs and can be substituted for ITO films, which have high sheet resistance and are brittle.
Highlights
For large-area flexible touch screen panels (TSPs) because of their simple and cost-effective printing process, metallic low resistivity, good flexibility, and absence of the Moiré effect[23,24,25,26]
Using the RTR slot die coating system (Supporting information Figures S1 and S2), the Ag NW layer was uniformly coated on the PET substrate through the slot die head, and the films passed through the heating zone (120 °C) by means of unwinding and rewinding the roller at a constant speed of 2 m/min
To demonstrate the feasibility of Ag NW network films as flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) for flexible TSPs, we investigated their mechanical flexibility based on specially designed bending test systems
Summary
For large-area flexible TSPs because of their simple and cost-effective printing process, metallic low resistivity, good flexibility, and absence of the Moiré effect[23,24,25,26]. Demonstrated flexible TSPs on Mayer-rod coated PEDOT:PSS/Ag NW hybrid electrodes[28]. They demonstrated the feasibility of cost-effective Ag NW electrode for TSPs on non-flat surfaces[27,28,29]. By continuous two-step RTR slot-die coating, we fabricated highly transparent and conductive Ag NW network films covered uniformly by over-coating layer to protect the Ag NWs. Capacitive-type flexible TSPs with diamond-patterned Ag NW electrodes were successfully operated, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of using the cost-effective Ag NW percolating network electrodes described here as alternative to conventional high-cost ITO electrodes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
