Room temperature high-efficiency welding of an ultra-long silver nanowire network for flexible transparent electrodes

• Published in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) England), 2024-08, Vol.6 (67), p.8884-8887
• Main Authors: Yao, Maomao, Zhao, Lulu, Fan, Chunyu, Han, Xingbo, Wu, Zhongbin, Sun, Hengda, Wang, Gang, Xiao, Ru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; Current efficiency; Efficiency; Electrical resistivity; Electrodes; Mechanical properties; Nanowires; Optoelectronic devices; Polyethylene terephthalate; Power efficiency; Room temperature; Surface tension; Welding
• ISSN: 1359-7345; 1364-548X; 1364-548X
• DOI: 10.1039/d4cc02580f

In the preparation of flexible electronic devices, obtaining a transparent conductive electrode with high electrical conductivity, high transparency, and mechanical flexibility is a significant challenge. This study developed a simple method for preparing ultra-long silver nanowires (ul-AgNWs), obtaining high-purity ul-AgNWs with an average length of 317.66 ± 98.60 μm, an average diameter of 78.06 ± 13.87 nm, and an aspect ratio exceeding 4000. Integrating these ul-AgNWs with a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, a flexible transparent electrode (FTE) with R s = 561 Ω and T = 97% was obtained. The ul-AgNWs were welded by driving the welding liquid to the intersection points through surface tension, resulting in a decrease of R s to 61 Ω, T = 98.2%, and achieving a FTE with excellent mechanical properties. Furthermore, this FTE was applied in the preparation of OLED devices, showing a turn-on voltage of 2.7 V, and the maximum current efficiency and power efficiency reached 58.6 mA cm −2 and 64.7 lm W −1 , respectively, demonstrating its significant potential in flexible optoelectronic devices. ul-AgNWs with high purity and an ultra-high aspect ratio were used to prepare FTEs, which were welded and demonstrated R s of 61 Ω, T = 98.2%, and stable mechanical performance. Application in OLED devices yielded promising results.