Multilayer ordered silver nanowire network films by self-driven climbing for large-area flexible optoelectronic devices

Abstract

Silver nanowire (AgNW) networks hold great promises as next-generation flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) for high-performance flexible optoelectronic devices. However, achieving large-area flexible AgNW network electrodes with low sheet resistance, high optical transmittance, and a smooth surface remains a grand challenge. Here, we report a straightforward and cost-effective roll-to-roll method that includes interface assembly/wetting-induced climbing transfer, nanowelding, and washing processess to fabricate flexible ordered layered AgNW electrodes with high network uniformity. By manipulating the stacking number of the interfacially assembled AgNW monolayer, we can precisely tailor and balance the transparency and the conductivity of the electrodes, achieving an exceptional Figure of Merit (FoM) value of 862. Moreover, the ordered layered structure enhances surface smoothness, compared with randomly arranged structures. To highlight the potential of these ordered layered AgNW network electrodes in flexible optoelectronic devices, we successfully employ them as highly sensitive strain sensors, large-area flexible touch screens, and flexible smart windows. Overall, this work represents a substantial advance toward high-performance FTEs over large areas, opening up exciting opportunities for the development of advanced optoelectronic devices.

Keywords

assembly / flexible transparent electrodes / ordered layered structure / silver nanowires / superwettability

References

[1] Cho S, Kang S, Pandya A, et al. Large-area cross-aligned silver nanowire electrodes for flexible, transparent, and force-sensitive mechanochromic touch screens. ACS Nano. 2017;11(4):4346-4357.

[2] Qu CM, Yu X, Xu Y, et al. A sensing and display system on wearable fabric based on patterned silver nanowires. Nano Energy. 2022;104:107965.

[3] Wang JL, Lu YR, Li HH, Liu JW, Yu SH. Large area co-assembly of nanowires for flexible transparent smart windows. J Am Chem Soc. 2017;139(29):9921-9926.

[4] Zhu X, Liu M, Qi X, et al. Templateless, plating-free fabrication of flexible transparent electrodes with embedded silver mesh by electric-field-driven microscale 3D printing and hybrid hot embossing. Adv Mater. 2021;33(21):e2007772.

[5] Mitin D, Berdnikov Y, Vorobyev A, et al. Optimization of optoelectronic properties of patterned single-walled carbon nanotube films. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2020;12(49):55141-55147.

[6] Wang JF, Teng C, Jiang Y, Zhu Y, Jiang L. Wetting-induced climbing for transferring interfacially assembled large-area ultrathin pristine graphene film. Adv Mater. 2019;31(10):1806742.

[7] Liu YX, Zheng M, O'Connor B, Dong JY, Zhu Y. Curvilinear soft electronics by micromolding of metal nanowires in capillaries. Sci Adv. 2022;8(46):eadd6996.

[8] Suh YD, Kwon J, Lee J, et al. Maskless fabrication of highly robust, flexible transparent Cu conductor by random crack network assisted Cu nanoparticle patterning and laser sintering. Adv Electron Mater. 2016;2(12):1600277.

[9] Wang ZX, Sun XH, Guo ZL, et al. Fabrication of submicron linewidth silver grid/ionogel hybrid films for highly stable flexible transparent electrodes via asymmetric wettability template-assisted self-assembly. Chem Eng J. 2023;469:144065.

[10] Xiong WW, Liu HL, Chen YZ, et al. Highly conductive, air-stable silver nanowire@iongel composite films toward flexible transparent electrodes. Adv Mater. 2016;28(33):7167-7172.

[11] Deng B, Hsu PC, Chen GC, et al. Roll-to-roll encapsulation of metal nanowires between graphene and plastic substrate for high-performance flexible transparent electrodes. Nano Lett. 2015;15(6):4206-4213.

[12] Sun YN, Chang MJ, Meng LX, et al. Flexible organic photovoltaics based on water-processed silver nanowire electrodes. Nat Electron. 2019;2(11):513-520.

[13] Huang SY, Zhang QZ, Yang F, et al. A facile way for scalable fabrication of silver nanowire network electrodes for high-performance and foldable smart windows. J Mater Chem A. 2020;8(17):8620-8628.

[14] Han JK, Yang JK, Gao WW, Bai H. Ice-templated, large-area silver nanowire pattern for flexible transparent electrode. Adv Funct Mater. 2021;31(16):2010155.

[15] Lee TW, Lee SE, Jeong YG. Highly effective electromagnetic interference shielding materials based on silver nanowire/cellulose papers. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8(20):13123-13132.

[16] Kang S, Kim T, Cho S, et al. Capillary printing of highly aligned silver nanowire transparent electrodes for high-performance optoelectronic devices. Nano Lett. 2015;15(12):7933-7942.

[17] Meng LL, Bian R, Guo C, Xu B, Liu H, Jiang L. Aligning Ag nanowires by a facile bioinspired directional liquid transfer: toward anisotropic flexible conductive electrodes. Adv Mater. 2018;30(25):e1706938.

[18] Li XX, Meng LL, Zhang M, Zhang KJ, Jiang L, Liu H. Ultra-highly cross-aligned AgNWs network by a facile liquid-bridge assisted Couette-flow solution process: toward mass-producing high-performance flexible transparent electrodes. CCS Chem. 2023;5(12):2855-2865.

[19] Meng LL, Zhang M, Deng HH, et al. Direct-writing large-area cross-aligned Ag nanowires network: toward high-performance transparent quantum dot light-emitting diodes. CCS Chem. 2021;3(8):187-195.

[20] Hu HB, Wang SC, Wang SC, Liu GW, Cao T, Long Y. Aligned silver nanowires enabled highly stretchable and transparent electrodes with unusual conductive property. Adv Funct Mater. 2019;29(33):1902922.

[21] Wu F, Li ZD, Ye F, Zhao XL, Zhang T, Yang XN. Aligned silver nanowires as transparent conductive electrodes for flexible optoelectronic devices. J Mater Chem C. 2016;4(47):11074-11080.

[22] Pu DF, Zhou WX, Li Y, et al. Order-enhanced silver nanowire networks fabricated by two-step dip-coating as polymer solar cell electrodes. RSC Adv. 2015;5(122):100725-100729.

[23] Yang Y, Wang JL, Liu L, Wang ZH, Liu JW, Yu SH. A room-temperature environmentally friendly solution process to assemble silver nanowire architectures for flexible transparent electrodes. Nanoscale. 2017;9(1):52-55.

[24] Liu JW, Wang JL, Wang ZH, Huang WR, Yu SH. Manipulating nanowire assembly for flexible transparent electrodes. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2014;53(49):13477-13482.

[25] Duan SK, Niu QL, Wei JF, He JB, Yin YA, Zhang Y. Water-bath assisted convective assembly of aligned silver nanowire films for transparent electrodes. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2015;17(12):8106-8112.

[26] Yin FG, Lu HJ, Pan H, et al. Highly sensitive and transparent strain sensors with an ordered array structure of AgNWs for wearable motion and health monitoring. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1-8.

[27] Huang JX, Kim F, Tao AR, Connor S, Yang PD. Spontaneous formation of nanoparticle stripe patterns through dewetting. Nat Mater. 2005;4(12):896-900.

[28] Jung D, Lim C, Shim HJ, et al. Highly conductive and elastic nanomembrane for skin electronics. Science. 2021;373(6558):1022-1026.

[29] Yang PD. Wires on water. Nature. 2003;425(6955):243-244.

[30] Chen XB, Xu GY, Zeng G, et al. Realizing ultrahigh mechanical flexibility and >15% efficiency of flexible organic solar cells via a "welding" flexible transparent electrode. Adv Mater. 2020;32(14):1908478.

[31] Kang H, Kim Y, Cheon S, Yi GR, Cho JH. Halide welding for silver nanowire network electrode. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2017;9(36):30779-30785.

[32] Zhang Z, Si T, Liu J. Controllable assembly of a hierarchical multiscale architecture based on silver nanoparticle grids/nanowires for flexible organic solar cells. Nanotechnology. 2018;29(41):415603.

[33] Ge YJ, Duan XD, Zhang M, et al. Direct room temperature welding and chemical protection of silver nanowire thin films for high performance transparent conductors. J Am Chem Soc. 2018;140(1):193-199.

[34] Liu Y, Zhang JM, Gao H, et al. Capillary-force-induced cold welding in silver-nanowire-based flexible transparent electrodes. Nano Lett. 2017;17(2):1090-1096.

[35] Ma CA, Liu HL, Teng C, et al. Wetting-induced fabrication of graphene hybrid with conducting polymers for high-performance flexible transparent electrodes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2020;12(49):55372-55381.

[36] Niu Z, Cui F, Kuttner E, et al. Synthesis of silver nanowires with reduced diameters using benzoin-derived radicals to make transparent conductors with high transparency and low haze. Nano Lett. 2018;18(8):5329-5334.

[37] De S, Higgins TM, Lyons PE, et al. Silver nanowire networks as flexible, transparent, conducting films: extremely high DC to optical conductivity ratios. ACS Nano. 2009;3(7):1767-1774.

[38] Gaynor W, Hofmann S, Christoforo MG, et al. Color in the corners: ITO-free white OLEDs with angular color stability. Adv Mater. 2013;25(29):4006-4013.

[39] Kim A, Won Y, Woo K, Kim CH, Moon J. Highly transparent low resistance ZnO/Ag nanowire/ZnO composite electrode for thin film solar cells. ACS Nano. 2013;7(2):1081-1091.

[40] Kim T, Canlier A, Kim GH, Choi J, Park M, Han SM. Electrostatic spray deposition of highly transparent silver nanowire electrode on flexible substrate. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5(3):788-794.

[41] Spechler JA, Koh TW, Herb JT, Rand BP, Arnold CB. A transparent, smooth, thermally robust, conductive polyimide for flexible electronics. Adv Funct Mater. 2015;25(48):7428-7434.

[42] Jang YR, Chung WH, Hwang YT, Hwang HJ, Kim SH, Kim HS. Selective wavelength plasmonic flash light welding of silver nanowires for transparent electrodes with high conductivity. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2018;10(28):24099-24107.

[43] Wu WT, Li LL, Li ZX, Sun JZ, Wang LL. Extensible integrated system for real-time monitoring of cardiovascular physiological signals and limb health. Adv Mater. 2023;51:2304596.

[44] Yan YX, Li ZX, Li LL, Lou Z. Stereopsis-inspired 3D visual imaging system based on 2D ruddlesden-popper perovskite. Small. 2023;19(30):2300831.

[45] Li LL, Xu H, Li ZX, Liu LC, Lou Z, Wang LL. CMOS-compatible tellurium/silicon ultra-fast near-infrared photodetector. Small. 2023;19(42):2303114.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 2024 The Authors. InfoMat published by UESTC and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.