Stability of solution processed transparent electrodes

Abstract

With the growing need for more efficient optoelectronic devices, the demand for optimizing individual components soon follows. For the application in these devices, transparent electrodes (TE) require high optical transmittance and low sheet resistance as well as adequate electrical, thermal and chemical stability. In recent years silver nanowires (AgNWs), with their excellent conductivity and transmittance coupled with their good mechanical flexibility and the option of being solution processed, have been considered promising alternatives to current industry options. Nevertheless, low adhesion, high surface roughness and low thermal, electrical and chemical stability hinder further application of these TE. A way of overcoming these drawbacks is to introduce protective layers through the formation of nanocomposite structures, with n-type metal oxides frequently used due to their high electron mobility, high transmittance and low contact resistance with AgNWs. In this work AgNW/ZnO nanocomposites have been fully solution processed through spin coating, where ZnO was coated multiple times onto AgNWs which were previously thermally welded in order to decrease the junction sheet resistance. AgNW/ZnO samples were studied for electrical and chemical degradation, where optical and electrical properties were analyzed before and after degradation.