Ultraflexible transparent conductive films based on Ag nanowires for use in quick thermal response transparent heater

Abstract

This work reports on the fabrication of an ultraflexible transparent conductive hybrid films via embedding silver nanowires (AgNWs) into a thin UV-curable resin film. This AgNW/UV-curable resin hybrid film exhibits excellent performance in terms of conductivity (sheet resistance: 9.9 Ω/sq.) and transparency (optical transmittance: 86.4%). After bending 1000 times at a 100 μm curvature radius or even undergoing an ultrasonication test, it still shows excellent electrical performance and negligible decay. The hybrid film has environmental endurance, and there is no significant performance degradation after being kept at high temperature (85 °C) and high humidity (85% humidity) for 60 h. Finally, the successful implementation of the hybrid film into a transparent film heater is demonstrated. The efficient Joule heating can increase the temperature of the heaters to 121 °C in ∼12 s at an input voltage of 6 V. The fast-heating characteristics at low voltages associated with its transparency and flexibility properties make the heaters a potential candidate in electrothermal applications, such as transparent soft actuators, wearable heaters, and medical thermotherapy pads.