Flexible transparent electrodes (TEs) are important for new electronic devices. This paper reports a scalable, cost effective Ag nanowires (AgNWs) TE, which is made of a SnO2·xH2O and AgNWs composite layer and a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottom layer by a solution method at room temperature. The AgNWs/SnO2·xH2O composite TEs reveal a significant reduction of four orders in magnitude of sheet resistance, from 90 kΩ sq-1 to 12 Ω sq-1, while retaining transmittance of about 92% at 550 nm. This could be owing to the significant reduction of contact resistance for the weld-like junction of bound AgNWs. Compared with others, this method is characterized by filling gaps of the silver nanowire network with SnO2·xH2O. In addition, the adhesive forces between the AgNWs and the substrate are improved. This could be attributed to strong adhesion of SnO2·xH2O with the substrate. Moreover, this foldable transparent electrode is applicable for any non-planar surfaces and ultimately for future wearable optoelectronic devices.
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.