Reduced\nGraphene Oxide Conformally Wrapped Silver\nNanowire Networks for Flexible Transparent Heating and Electromagnetic\nInterference Shielding

Abstract

Metal nanowire networks\n(MNNs) are promising as transparent electrode\nmaterials for a diverse range of optoelectronic devices and also work\nas active materials for electrical heating and electromagnetic interference\n(EMI) shielding applications. However, the relatively low performance\nand poor durability of MNNs are limiting the practical application\nof the resulting devices. Here, we report a controllable approach\nto enhance the conductivity and the stability of MNNs with their transmittance\nremaining unchanged, in which reduced graphene oxide conformally wrapped\nsilver nanowire networks (AgNW@rGO networks) are synthesized by selective\nelectrodeposition of GO nanosheets on AgNWs followed by a pulsed laser\nirradiation treatment. Experimental characterizations and finite-difference\ntime-domain simulations indicate that pulsed laser irradiation at\na specific wavelength not only reduces the GO but also welds the AgNWs\ntogether through a surface plasmon resonance process. As a result,\nthe AgNW@rGO networks exhibit low sheet resistance of 3.3 Ω/□,\naverage transmittance of 91.1%, and good flexibility. Wrapping with\nrGO improves the maximum electrical heating temperature of the AgNW\nnetwork transparent heaters due to the effective suppression of the\noxidation and the migration of surface silver atoms. In addition,\nexcellent EMI shielding effectiveness of up to 35.5 dB in the 8.2–12.4\nGHz frequency range is obtained as a consequence of the combined effects\nof dual reflection, conduction loss, and multiple dielectric polarization\nrelaxation processes.