Synthesizing\na Healable Stretchable Transparent Conductor

Abstract

We\nreport the first demonstration of a healable stretchable transparent\nelectrode comprising a silver nanowire (AgNW) network and poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate\n(PEDOT) hybrid layer in the surface of a Diels–Alder elastomer\nsubstrate. The thin PEDOT layer solders the silver nanowires and confines\nthe nanowire network in the substrate surface. The bonding between\nthe nanowires and PEDOT is tuned via ethanol–water wetting,\nwhich allows for large-strain prestretching of the AgNW network. The\ncomposite electrode prepared via such a wetting and prestretching\ntreatment has a figure-of-merit sheet resistance of 15 ohm/sq with\n78% transmittance at 550 nm and can be stretched by 100% strain. Damages\ncaused by razor blade cutting on the conductive surface could be healed,\nand the damaging-healing could be repeated for three times at the\nsame location. The healed electrode exhibits similar resistance–strain\nresponse as the fresh electrode because of the PEDOT layer being capable\nof circumventing broken nanowire sites. Fatigue-induced damages after\n100 cycles of 60% strain can also be healed by simple heating.