title: Plasticized Polymer Interlayer for Low-Temperature Fabrication of a High-Quality Silver Nanowire-Based Flexible Transparent and Conductive Film.
abstract: Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are one of the most promising materials to replace commercially available indium tin oxide in flexible transparent conductive films (TCFs); however, there are still numerous problems originating from poor AgNW junction formation and improper AgNW embedment into transparent substrates. To mitigate these problems, high-temperature processes have been adopted; however, unwanted substrate deformation prevents the use of these processes for the formation of flexible TCFs. In this work, we present a novel poly(methyl methacrylate) interlayer plasticized by dibutyl phthalate for low-temperature fabrication of AgNW-based TCFs, which does not cause any substrate deformation. By exploiting the viscoelastic properties of the plasticized interlayer near the lowered glass-transition temperature, a monolithic junction of AgNWs on the interlayer and embedment of the interconnected AgNWs into the interlayer are achieved in a single-step pressing. The resulting AgNW-TCFs are highly transparent (∼92% at a wavelength of 550 nm), highly conductive (<90 Ω/sq), and environmentally and mechanically robust. Therefore, the plasticized interlayer provides a simple and effective route to fabricate high-quality AgNW-based TCFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Wonhee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hongkyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Tak
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4578-5422
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: flexible transparent conductive film; monolithic junction; plasticized interlayer; silver nanowire; viscoelasticity