Direct-write pulsed laser processed silver nanowire networks for transparent conducting electrodes

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 108; no. 1; pp. 25 - 28
• Main Authors: Spechler, Joshua A., Arnold, Craig B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.07.2012; Springer
• Subjects: Biological and medical applications; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Industrial applications; Liquid phase epitaxy; deposition from liquid phases (melts, solutions, and surface layers on liquids); Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Quantum wires; Rapid Communication; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Transparent Conductor; Optical Transparency; Surface Resistance; Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope; Optical Transmission; Silver; Transparency; Material processing; Ultraviolet irradiation; Surface resistance; Surface conductivity; Laser assisted processing; Spin-on coating; Nanowires; Plasmonics; Laser beam applications; Pulsed lasers
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-012-6958-7

Metal nanowire networks are promising alternatives for transparent conducting layers in flexible electronics. However, the inverse relationship between transparency and conductivity limits their viability in many critical applications. In this work, we demonstrate a direct-write refining technique in which a solution-processed nanowire network, deposited by spin coating, is exposed to monochromatic UV pulsed laser processing near a plasmonic resonance. Our results exhibit a 75 % reduction in surface resistance along with marginal improvements in optical transparency. The local nature of the laser technique enables direct-write or large area processing on a variety of substrates including flexible, and organic materials.