Advances in Silver Nanowires‐Based Composite Electrodes: Materials Processing, Fabrication, and Applications

Abstract

This article reviews the increasing need for innovative transparent and conductive electrodes (TCEs) for modern optoelectronics, flexible electronics, sensors, and biomedical devices as alternatives to brittle and scarce conventional indium tin oxide (ITO). Among the various TCE materials explored, silver nanowires (AgNWs) have emerged as a promising candidate to replace ITO, thanks to their remarkable properties. However, AgNW‐based TCEs can present limitations such as thermal instability, high contact resistance, increased surface roughness, and inadequate adhesion to substrates. Incorporating secondary conductive materials with AgNWs has proven effective in mitigating these challenges, leading to high‐performance composite electrodes. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in AgNW‐based composite TCEs for applications in optoelectronics, flexible electronics, sensors, and biomedical devices. It covers the materials and methodologies employed to construct high‐performance composite electrodes and present a comparative analysis of various composite TCEs in terms of their optical, electrical, and mechanical properties and performance in different electronic devices. The article also discusses recent breakthroughs in enhancing TCE stability, adhesion, and contact resistance reduction by employing additional materials such as graphene, conductive polymers, and metal oxide nanoparticles. The review addresses the challenges in the field of composite TCEs, proposes potential solutions, and highlights opportunities.

A comprehensive review on the biomedical frontiers of nanowire applications

“…Nevertheless, issues related to controlled synthesis, assembly, and integration into electronics must be tackled [ [19] , [20] , [21] ]. Surface effects, flaws, and interfacial difficulties may restrict performance as well [ [22] , [23] , [24] ]. There is a need for more efficient synthesis methods for large-scale production, as well as improved control over dopant inclusion and defect engineering.…”

Intrinsically Stretchable, Self-Healing, and Large-Scale Epidermal Bioelectrode Arrays for Electrophysiology and Gesture Recognition

“…Silver nanowire (AgNW), due to its high electrical conductivity, high flexibility, and high optical transparency, has been widely used as a promising conductive material for various applications such as photovoltaics, displays, touch panels, and smart windows . Additionally, AgNW-based composites such as AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS, AgNWs/graphene, AgNWs/graphene oxide (GO), AgNWs/carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and AgNWs/MXene have been widely used in flexible and stretchable electrodes and have been extended for wearable sensors and biomedical applications. − Typically, Wang and co-workers used a capillary-force-induced method to fabricate stretchable AgNW/CNT composite electrodes with a low sheet resistance of 8.7 Ω·sq –1 , transmittance of 66.4%, and high stretchability of 490% .…”

“…Silver nanowire (AgNW), due to its high electrical conductivity, high flexibility, and high optical transparency, has been widely used as a promising conductive material for various applications such as photovoltaics, displays, touch panels, and smart windows . Additionally, AgNW-based composites such as AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS, AgNWs/graphene, AgNWs/graphene oxide (GO), AgNWs/carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and AgNWs/MXene have been widely used in flexible and stretchable electrodes and have been extended for wearable sensors and biomedical applications. − Typically, Wang and co-workers used a capillary-force-induced method to fabricate stretchable AgNW/CNT composite electrodes with a low sheet resistance of 8.7 Ω·sq –1 , transmittance of 66.4%, and high stretchability of 490% . However, this work is mainly focused on electrical, optical, and mechanical performance, and there is still a lack of attention to electromechanical properties (such as strain-induced resistance change and hysteresis).…”