Flexible Double-Sided Light-Emitting Devices Based on Transparent Embedded Interdigital Electrodes

Abstract

In the areas of flexible displays and wearable devices, doublesided light-emitting devices have huge commercial applications. Here, we provide a novel form of flexible double-sided light-emitting devices by designing and manufacturing different transparent interdigital electrodes for lighting the structural areas of composite emitting layers. The transparent interdigital electrodes are fabricated by embedding multiwalled carbon nanotubes in interdigital mesh-structured microcavities using a doctor-blading process, and the emitting layers are fabricated by mixing copper-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS/Cu) phosphor particles with the transparent polydimethylsiloxane polymer. The fabricated double-sided light-emitting devices could be in the crimp state, exhibiting excellent flexibility. By designing the structure of the interdigital electrodes and the thickness of the emitting layers, the double-sided emission intensity of the light-emitting devices can be adjusted. Furthermore, based on the flexible double-sided light-emitting devices, various patterns can be successfully programed, such as the digital, grayscale, and ancient Chinese walls. The flexible and programmable double-sided light-emitting films provide a promising strategy for the next generation of customized flexible displays.

Multifunctional Displays and Sensing Platforms for the Future: A Review on Flexible Alternating Current Electroluminescence Devices

“…Moreover, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can also be electrodes of ACEL devices with high transparency. In Nie's study, 114 double-sided light-emitting devices can be simply fabricated by embedding MWCNT ink into mesh-structure interdigital microcavities with a doctor blade, and the device exhibited excellent flexibility.…”

High-Performance Transparent and Conductive Films with Fully Enclosed Metal Mesh

“…Flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) are key components for optoelectronic devices, ranging from solar cells, − to touch screens, , to displays, , and smart windows. , Although indium tin oxide (ITO) has been the most commonly used TCEs, the intrinsic brittleness and the scarcity of indium materials severely limit its application in flexible TCEs. − Various kinds of TCEs have been proposed to make flexible TCEs, yet they have not well satisfied the practical applications for the combined requirement of optical transparency, electric conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and local electric field uniformity. Through different deposition processes, such as spraying and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), various conductive materials of metal nanowires or graphene are fabricated on the surfaces of transparent substrates, which is the most common way to prepare TCEs. − However, for these electrodes, the optical transparency and the electric conductivity are a pair of contradictory parameters.…”

“…Flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) are key components for optoelectronic devices, ranging from solar cells, 1−3 to touch screens, 4,5 to displays, 6,7 and smart windows. 8,9 Although indium tin oxide (ITO) has been the most commonly used TCEs, the intrinsic brittleness and the scarcity of indium materials severely limit its application in flexible TCEs.…”

Solution-processable electrode-material embedding in dynamically inscribed nanopatterns (SPEEDIN) for continuous fabrication of durable flexible devices

“…Metal nanostructures, including nanoporous metal films, self-assembled metal layers, and micro-and nanopatterned metal films, have inspired many diverse functional applications in photonics, plasmonics, and electronics [1][2][3][4][5] . Among these structures, metal micro-and nanopattern structures (MNPs) have provided highly accessible and widely applicable frameworks for most practical devices, including transparent electrodes, sensor platforms, and plasmonic templates [5][6][7][8][9][10] . For instance, silver (Ag) has been one of the most versatile MNP materials owing to its excellent mechanical malleability, robust electrical and thermal conductivity, and unique plasmonic and photonic characteristics [11][12][13][14][15][16] .…”