Mixed dimension silver nanowires for solution processed, flexible, transparent and conducting electrodes with improved optical and physical properties

Abstract

In this work, we present an alternative method for the spray coating of silver nanowires contact electrodes by employing a mixture of short and long nanowires. Mixed silver nanowires are found to give improve optical properties with 2-5% higher transparency for the same sheet resistance of 25 Ωsq-1, when compared to silver nanowires prepared with a single geometry nanowire. The figure of merit (FoM) for the 25 Ωsq-1 sheet resistance electrode was found to be highest for the mixed composition AgNWs-M1 based electrodes. Furthermore, the average root mean square surface roughness (Rq) parameter by WLI measurement are found to be lower for the mixed composition silver nanowires electrodes (Rq= 3-4 nm) when compare to the individual parent fixed dimension type silver nanowire electrodes (Rq = 6-8 nm).