Facile fabrication of large-scale silver nanowire-PEDOT:PSS composite flexible transparent electrodes for flexible touch panels

Abstract

Large-scale silver nanowire (AgNW)-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite transparent flexible electrodes (FTEs) were fabricated via a Mayer rod coating method, and the optoelectrical properties, surface topography, mechanical stability and touch sensing performance were investigated in detail. The AgNW-PEDOT:PSS composite FTEs show high optoelectrical properties with a sheet resistance of 12 Ω/sq and a transmittance of 96% at 550 nm, and can maintain after 100 times of wiping or 5000 times of bending. The PEDOT:PSS aggregating at the junctions of AgNWs provides highly conductive pathways and enhances the adhesion between AgNWs and substrates. As a proof of concept demonstration, 7 × 7 cm2 transparent touch panel is fabricated using AgNW-PEDOT:PSS composite FTEs as top and bottom electrodes, and can operate on a non-flat surface and perform properly after 2000 times of writing or operating 24 h. The newly designed AgNW-PEDOT:PSS composite FTE is a promising candidate of brittle and expensive ITO for flexible optoelectrical devices.