(Invited) Transparent Conducting Oxide-Free Flexible Thin Film Electronic Devices and Hybrid Systems

Abstract

The rapid development of the modern electronics raises higher demands on the flexible and even wearable energy resources. Flexible transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) are one of the essential components for electronic devices and hybrid systems. Despite commercial ITO on plastics demonstrates superior optoelectronic performances, the low abundance, film britleness, low infrared transmittance and poor chemical stability limit its appications in high flexible and even wearable electronic devices. In this regard,we present highly transparent and conducting ITO-free network film as electrodes for flexible electronic devices and hybrid systems. Thesr These network electrodes not only exhibit remarkable mechanical flexibility under bending tests compared to traditional ITO/plastic substrates, but also superior chemical stability in harsh environment. In addtion, different techniques including electrostatic spinning and crack template were developed to large-area fabricate network TCEs. Such TCE films can achieve a sheet resistance (R s ) as low as ~1.0 Ω sq -1 with transmittance over 85%. Herein, our network electrodes not only served as conducting films for collecting electrons from the external circuit, but also served as superior catalysts for redox reaction at the CE. Thereform, such network TCEs with high flexibility, transparency, conductivity and catalytic activity could be widely used in soalr cells, heaters, electrochromic devices and hybrid energy systems.