Scalable Coating and Properties of Transparent, Flexible, Silver Nanowire
01 Jan 2010-
TL;DR: The overall properties of transparent Ag NW electrodes meet the requirements of transparent electrodes for many applications and could be an immediate ITO replacement for flexible electronics and solar cells.
Abstract: We report a comprehensive study of transparent and conductive silver nanowire (Ag NW) electrodes,includingascalablefabricationprocess,morphologies,andoptical,mechanicaladhesion,andflexibility properties, and various routes to improve the performance. We utilized a synthesis specifically designed for long andthinwiresforimprovedperformanceintermsofsheetresistanceandopticaltransmittance.Twenty/sqand 80% specular transmittance, and 8 ohms/sq and 80% diffusive transmittance in the visible range are achieved, whichfallinthesamerangeasthebestindiumtinoxide(ITO)samplesonplasticsubstratesforflexibleelectronics andsolarcells.TheAgNWelectrodesshowopticaltransparenciessuperiortoITOfornear-infraredwavelengths(2- foldhighertransmission).Owingtolightscatteringeffects,theAgNWnetworkhasthelargestdifferencebetween diffusive transmittance and specular transmittance when compared with ITO and carbon nanotube electrodes, a propertywhichcouldgreatlyenhancesolarcellperformance.AmechanicalstudyshowsthatAgNWelectrodeson flexiblesubstratesshowexcellentrobustnesswhensubjectedtobending.Wealsostudytheelectricalconductance ofAgnanowiresandtheirjunctionsandreportafacileelectrochemicalmethodforaAucoatingtoreducethewire- to-wire junction resistance for better overallfilm conductance. Simple mechanical pressing was also found to increasetheNWfilmconductanceduetothereductionofjunctionresistance.Theoverallpropertiesoftransparent Ag NW electrodes meet the requirements of transparent electrodes for many applications and could be an immediate ITO replacement forflexible electronics and solar cells.
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TL;DR: This review will explore the materials properties of transparent conductors, covering traditional metal oxides and conductive polymers initially, but with a focus on current developments in nano-material coatings.
Abstract: Transparent electrodes are a necessary component in many modern devices such as touch screens, LCDs, OLEDs, and solar cells, all of which are growing in demand. Traditionally, this role has been well served by doped metal oxides, the most common of which is indium tin oxide, or ITO. Recently, advances in nano-materials research have opened the door for other transparent conductive materials, each with unique properties. These include CNTs, graphene, metal nanowires, and printable metal grids. This review will explore the materials properties of transparent conductors, covering traditional metal oxides and conductive polymers initially, but with a focus on current developments in nano-material coatings. Electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of each material will be discussed, as well as suitability for various applications.
1,947 citations
TL;DR: The applicability of the high performance strain sensors based on the nanocomposite of silver nanowire network and PDMS elastomer in the form of the sandwich structure is demonstrated by fabricating a glove integrated with five strain sensors for the motion detection of fingers and control of an avatar in the virtual environment.
Abstract: The demand for flexible and wearable electronic devices is increasing due to their facile interaction with human body. Flexible, stretchable and wearable sensors can be easily mounted on clothing or directly attached onto the body. Especially, highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensors are needed for the human motion detection. Here, we report highly flexible, stretchable and sensitive strain sensors based on the nanocomposite of silver nanowire (AgNW) network and PDMS elastomer in the form of the sandwich structure (i.e., AgNW thin film embedded between two layers of PDMS). The AgNW network-elastomer nanocomposite based strain sensors show strong piezoresistivity with tunable gauge factors in the ranges of 2 to 14 and a high stretchability up to 70%. We demonstrate the applicability of our high performance strain sensors by fabricating a glove integrated with five strain sensors for the motion detection of fingers and control of an avatar in the virtual environment.
1,837 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a number of cubic crystals, two-dimensional layered materials, nanostructure networks and composites, molecular layers and surface functionalization, and aligned polymer structures are examined for potential applications as heat spreading layers and substrates, thermal interface materials, and underfill materials in future-generation electronics.
1,269 citations
TL;DR: Materials that are both conductive and stretchable could enable a spectrum of applications such as stretchable displays, stretchable radiofrequency antennas, artifi cial muscles and conformal skin sensors.
Abstract: IO N Materials that are both conductive and stretchable could enable a spectrum of applications such as stretchable displays, [ 1 ] stretchable radiofrequency antennas, [ 2 ] artifi cial muscles [ 3 ] and conformal skin sensors. [ 4–7 ] A variety of such materials have been recently developed, such as wavy thin metals, [ 8 , 9 ] metal-coated net-shaped plastic fi lm, [ 10 ] graphene fi lms [ 11 ] and carbon nanotube (CNT)-based composites. [ 12–19 ] But several limitations typically exist in these materials including low conductivity, [ 13 , 15 , 16 , 19 ]
1,137 citations
TL;DR: The concluding guidelines provided herein should enable new nanostructures to be accessed facilely, and the properties of PVP-capped NPs for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), assembly, catalysis, and more are discussed.
Abstract: Colloidal synthesis offers a route to nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled composition and structural features. This Perspective describes the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to obtain such nanostructures. PVP can serve as a surface stabilizer, growth modifier, nanoparticle dispersant, and reducing agent. As shown with examples, its role depends on the synthetic conditions. This dependence arises from the amphiphilic nature of PVP along with the molecular weight of the selected PVP. These characteristics can affect nanoparticle growth and morphology by providing solubility in diverse solvents, selective surface stabilization, and even access to kinetically controlled growth conditions. This Perspective includes discussions of the properties of PVP-capped NPs for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), assembly, catalysis, and more. The contribution of PVP to these properties as well as its removal is considered. Ultimately, the NPs accessed through the use of PVP in colloidal syntheses are opening new applications, and the concluding guidelines provided herein should enable new nanostructures to be accessed facilely.
1,054 citations
References
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TL;DR: Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments.
Abstract: Graphene is a rapidly rising star on the horizon of materials science and condensed-matter physics. This strictly two-dimensional material exhibits exceptionally high crystal and electronic quality, and, despite its short history, has already revealed a cornucopia of new physics and potential applications, which are briefly discussed here. Whereas one can be certain of the realness of applications only when commercial products appear, graphene no longer requires any further proof of its importance in terms of fundamental physics. Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena, some of which are unobservable in high-energy physics, can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments. More generally, graphene represents a conceptually new class of materials that are only one atom thick, and, on this basis, offers new inroads into low-dimensional physics that has never ceased to surprise and continues to provide a fertile ground for applications.
35,293 citations
TL;DR: The direct synthesis of large-scale graphene films using chemical vapour deposition on thin nickel layers is reported, and two different methods of patterning the films and transferring them to arbitrary substrates are presented, implying that the quality of graphene grown by chemical vapours is as high as mechanically cleaved graphene.
Abstract: Problems associated with large-scale pattern growth of graphene constitute one of the main obstacles to using this material in device applications. Recently, macroscopic-scale graphene films were prepared by two-dimensional assembly of graphene sheets chemically derived from graphite crystals and graphene oxides. However, the sheet resistance of these films was found to be much larger than theoretically expected values. Here we report the direct synthesis of large-scale graphene films using chemical vapour deposition on thin nickel layers, and present two different methods of patterning the films and transferring them to arbitrary substrates. The transferred graphene films show very low sheet resistance of approximately 280 Omega per square, with approximately 80 per cent optical transparency. At low temperatures, the monolayers transferred to silicon dioxide substrates show electron mobility greater than 3,700 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and exhibit the half-integer quantum Hall effect, implying that the quality of graphene grown by chemical vapour deposition is as high as mechanically cleaved graphene. Employing the outstanding mechanical properties of graphene, we also demonstrate the macroscopic use of these highly conducting and transparent electrodes in flexible, stretchable, foldable electronics.
10,033 citations
TL;DR: Recent advances at the intersection of plasmonics and photovoltaics are surveyed and an outlook on the future of solar cells based on these principles is offered.
Abstract: The emerging field of plasmonics has yielded methods for guiding and localizing light at the nanoscale, well below the scale of the wavelength of light in free space. Now plasmonics researchers are turning their attention to photovoltaics, where design approaches based on plasmonics can be used to improve absorption in photovoltaic devices, permitting a considerable reduction in the physical thickness of solar photovoltaic absorber layers, and yielding new options for solar-cell design. In this review, we survey recent advances at the intersection of plasmonics and photovoltaics and offer an outlook on the future of solar cells based on these principles.
8,028 citations
TL;DR: The transparency, conductivity, and ambipolar transfer characteristics of the films suggest their potential as another materials candidate for electronics and opto-electronic applications.
Abstract: In this work we present a low cost and scalable technique, via ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on polycrystalline Ni films, to fabricate large area (∼cm2) films of single- to few-layer graphene and to transfer the films to nonspecific substrates. These films consist of regions of 1 to ∼12 graphene layers. Single- or bilayer regions can be up to 20 μm in lateral size. The films are continuous over the entire area and can be patterned lithographically or by prepatterning the underlying Ni film. The transparency, conductivity, and ambipolar transfer characteristics of the films suggest their potential as another materials candidate for electronics and opto-electronic applications.
5,663 citations
TL;DR: Graphene dispersions with concentrations up to approximately 0.01 mg ml(-1), produced by dispersion and exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone are demonstrated.
Abstract: Fully exploiting the properties of graphene will require a method for the mass production of this remarkable material. Two main routes are possible: large-scale growth or large-scale exfoliation. Here, we demonstrate graphene dispersions with concentrations up to approximately 0.01 mg ml(-1), produced by dispersion and exfoliation of graphite in organic solvents such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone. This is possible because the energy required to exfoliate graphene is balanced by the solvent-graphene interaction for solvents whose surface energies match that of graphene. We confirm the presence of individual graphene sheets by Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Our method results in a monolayer yield of approximately 1 wt%, which could potentially be improved to 7-12 wt% with further processing. The absence of defects or oxides is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron, infrared and Raman spectroscopies. We are able to produce semi-transparent conducting films and conducting composites. Solution processing of graphene opens up a range of potential large-area applications, from device and sensor fabrication to liquid-phase chemistry.
5,600 citations