Fabrication of Ag nanowire and Al-doped ZnO hybrid transparent electrodes

Abstract

Among the materials used as transparent electrodes, silver nanowires (AgNWs) have attracted attention because of their high transmittance and excellent conductivity. However, AgNWs have shortcomings, including their poor adhesion, oxidation by atmospheric oxygen, and unstable characteristics at high temperature. To overcome these shortcomings, multi-layer thin films with an aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO)/AgNW/AZO structure were fabricated using facing targets sputtering. The samples heated to 350 °C exhibited stable electrical characteristics. In addition, the adhesion to the substrate was improved compared with AgNWs layer. The AZO/AgNW/AZO thin films with multilayer structure overcame the shortcomings of AgNWs, and we propose their use as transparent electrodes with excellent properties for optoelectronic applications.

A solution-processed Ag@ZnO core–shell nanowire network for stretchable transparent electromagnetic interference shielding application

“…The resulting Ag@ZnO core-shell NW network exhibits outstanding advantages at a low fabrication temperature and high transmittance. 11,16,19,[21][22][23][24][36][37][38][39][40][41] In addition, the electrodeposition process could be conducted at normal pressure and in several seconds.…”

“…21 There are also reports using atomic layer deposition and magnetron sputtering to coat MNNs with metal oxides. [22][23][24][25] However, metal oxide films not only absorb visible light and lower the total transmittance but also decrease the removability of MNNs and deteriorate their stretchability.…”

Advances in constructing silver nanowire-based conductive pathways for flexible and stretchable electronics

“…303 Given these merits, the AgNW–ZnO composite is considered to possess great potential for flexible electronics, transparent heater, and photovoltaic devices. 296–298,300…”

“…The classical AgNW-metal oxide composites include AgNW-ZnO (zinc oxide) hybrid and AgNW-TiO 2 (titanium dioxide) hybrid. Among them, the AgNW-ZnO composites exhibit superior flexibility, thermal and electrical stabilities, [296][297][298][299][300] while the bare AgNW network is prone to damage or disconnect caused by local melting at a high temperature or a voltage ramp. 296 ZnO-coated AgNWs possess an excellent thermal stability even exceeding 500 °C, owing to the hindered silver atomic diffusion in the presence of the thin oxide layer and improvement of the electrode interfaces.…”

“…303 Given these merits, the AgNW-ZnO composite is considered to possess great potential for flexible electronics, transparent heater, and photovoltaic devices. [296][297][298]300 AgNW-TiO 2 composites also attract researchers' attention. Given the cost benefit and the technology development, solgel processing was employed to coat the TiO 2 layer onto the AgNW network.…”