Self-Limited Nanosoldering of Silver Nanowires for High-Performance Flexible Transparent Heaters

Abstract

Silver nanowires (Ag NWs) are key materials to fabricate next-generation flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs). Currently, the applications of Ag NWs are impeded by the large wire−wire contact resistance. Herein, a selflimited nanosoldering method is proposed to reduce the contact resistance by epitaxially depositing silver nanosolders at the Ag NW junctions, which have a negligible effect on the optical transparency, while decreasing the sheet resistance of the Ag NW film from 18.6 to 7.7 Ω/sq at a transmittance of 90%. In addition, the deposited nanosolders at the junctions remarkably improve the electrical and mechanical stabilities of the Ag NW electrodes. Notably, this simple nanosoldering process can be rapidly conducted under room temperature and ambient conditions and is free of any technical support or specific equipment. This technique is easily applied to the nanosoldering of 210 × 297 mm FTEs. Based on these FTEs, a high-performance flexible transparent heater with a sheet resistance 3.7 Ω/sq at a transmittance of 82.5% is constructed. Because of the high heating rate (4.8 °C/s), the heater can produce uniform heating (145 °C) at a short response time (30 s) and low input voltage (6 V).

Flexible biodegradable transparent heaters based on fractal-like leaf skeletons

“…To make such heaters, engineered nanomaterials such as metal nanowires [17][18][19] , carbon nanotubes 20 , graphene 21 , and other nanocomposites 4,22 have been proposed. In general, the film heaters are of different types such as metal oxide thin film-based heaters 23 , carbon nanostructures-based heaters 9 , metal nanowire network-based heaters 24,25 , metal mesh 26 , and hybrid electrodes-based heaters as reviewed in a work by Gupta et al 4 . Among those, hybrid electrodes-based heaters make use of mesh-like architecture in combination with the conductive films 27 .…”

Transparent Heaters: A Review

“…This method can decrease R sh from 18.6 to 7.7 Ω sq −1 while preserving a constant optical transmittance of 90%. [ 169 ] The first demonstration of AgNW networks being efficiently used as THs was published in 2012 by Celle et al [ 42 ] These authors showed that the intrinsic features of AgNW random networks made it possible to combine bendability, transparency and high heating performances at low voltages (below 12 V), which constitutes a clear asset for integration in many applications. [ 42 ] This demonstration, on both glass and polymeric substrates, was followed by numerous publications.…”

Highly Conductive Silver Nanoparticle-Functionalized Aramid Fiber Paper for Electrical Heaters with Rapid Response and Chemical Stability

“…With the increasing demands for smart wearables, optoelectronics and temperaturepreservation device, electrical heaters which have light weight, high strength, ultra-flexibility and rapid response have received widespread attentions [1][2][3][4][5] . Electrical heaters which increase temperature by converting electrical energy into thermal energy can meet the requirements for different scenes such as smart clothing, defogging, ice melting and water heating [6][7][8][9] .…”