Silver Nanowire-Conducting Polymer-ITO Hybrids for Flexible and Transparent Conductive Electrodes with Excellent Durability.

Solution-processed silver nanowire (AgNW) films have attracted attention as transparent and conductive electrodes for flexible optoelectronic devices and touch screens, to replace sputtered indium-tin-oxide (ITO) films. However, the mechanical flexibility, environmental durability, and the optical (such as transparency and a haze) and electrical properties of the AgNW films should be improved for their practical application. In this work, high-performance and roll-to-roll processed AgNW-based hybrid electrodes comprising poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PEDOT: PSS) and/or ITO are introduced. The optical and electrical properties of the AgNW films combined with PEDOT: PSS, ITO, or both of them were systematically examined. Among the films, the AgNW-PEDOT:PSS-ITO hybrid film exhibits a high transmittance (88%) and a low sheet resistance (44 Ω sq(-1)) with a small haze (1.9%). Moreover, the hybrid films show excellent durability to a variety of environmental stresses. By virtues of the high performance and durability, it is believed that the AgNW-PEDOT:PSS-ITO hybrid electrodes are highly suitable for practical use.