Abstract
In recent years, flexible electronic devices have attracted much attention. Accordingly, flexible transparent conductive films are being researched actively. The commonly used indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent conductive film has limited flexibility. Therefore, we focused on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythio- phene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) as a substitute material for ITO and are engaged in producing flexible transparent conductive film using inkjet printers. To improve the characteristics of the transparent conductive film produced by inkjet printing, based on prior research, we found that cleaning the film substrate with ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) and post-deposition annealing and treatment using polar solvents are effective for thin films. In this study, we examined the method of applying the polar solvent. As a result, we were able to improve the homogeneity of the thin film surface by applying the polar solvent to each thin film lamination layer. The resulting characteristics obtained for a three-layer printed PEDOT:PSS thin film with polar solvent coating were resistivity of 1.49 × 10-3 Ω·cm and transmittance of 84.6%. However, we found that the surface condition changed depending on the processing method, affecting the rate of visible light transmittance.
Highlights
To improve the characteristics of the transparent conductive film produced by inkjet printing, based on prior research, we found that cleaning the film substrate with ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) and post-deposition annealing and treatment using polar solvents are effective for thin films
We have found that cleaning the substrate with ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) and post-deposition annealing and treatment using polar solvents are effective for PEDOT:PSS thin films [24] [25]
The resistivity was reduced by applying the polar solvent to each layer of the PEDOT:PSS thin film during printing
Summary
Flexible solar cells, displays, and sensors are popular areas of research [4]-[9] In these electronic devices, transparent electrodes, which transmit visible light and possess conductivity, are important components. The practicality of organic materials is starting to be recognized to build organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, organic thin-film solar cells, and organic transistors [15]-[20] These organic electronics do not require high-temperature vacuum processing; they can be manufactured using low-temperature processes, and devices can be produced inexpensively by printing and coating techniques [21] [22]. The main challenges in producing the organic transparent conductive film using the inkjet printing method are homogeneity of the surface and improving the characteristics of the thin film [23]. We investigated the method of applying the polar solvent, ethylene glycol, to the thin film produced using ink containing DMSO, intending to make the thin film more uniform and improve its characteristics
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