Thin Films of Silver Nanowires for Flexible, Transparent, and Conductive (FTC) Electrodes

Abstract

In this research, we have succeeded in making thin-films for flexible, transparent, and conductive (FTC) electrodes based on silver nanowires. The synthesis of silver nanowires is carried out at low temperatures, namely at 60 to 130 oC. The materials used in the synthesis of AgNWs are polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent and Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3”¢6H2O) as a precursor to controlling the size of silver nanowires. Furthermore, the silver nanowires colloid then created a thin layer over the polycarbonate (PC) substrate by the roll to roll process. The Result shows that the formation of silver nanowires occurred at low temperatures of about 90 °C. The optimum condition of silver nanowires has obtained synthesis at the temperature of 110 °C with the average diameter of (100 ± 20) nm and length (30 ± 15) μm. The silver nanowires will increase in length and diameter at low-temperature and decrease at high temperatures .The transmittance of FTC film silver nanowires about 76-95% at a wavelength of 550 nm. The absorbance coefficient of FTC film silver nanowires has increased from 2.7 to 29.2 cm-1 at wavelength range 400 to 700 nm. The sheet resistance of the FTC film by varying the number of layers obtained of 905.2, 340.7, 21.9, and 3.4 Ω.sq-1 with the transmittance obtained at 76.7 to 95.8%. The number of layers of silver nanowires will increase the sheet resistance and decrease the optical transmittance of the FTC film.