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The ITO transparent anode with a SnO 2 layer (SnO 2 /ITO) serving as a buffer layer between the PEDOT: PSS has been prepared onto glass substrates. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the SnO 2 layer exhibits an amorphous structure. After the acid treatment, the resistivity of SnO 2 /ITO anodes was smaller than that of the acid-treated ITO anodes. Furthermore, the mechanism of the enhanced chemical stability by the SnO 2 buffer layer is proposed. Such SnO 2 /ITO transparent anodes were used for organic solar cells (OSCs). The power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of OSCs used SnO 2 /ITO anodes with a SnO 2 buffer layer thickness of 10 nm increased by 15% compared with the reference OSC used a bare ITO anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance enhancement of flexible transparent conductive Cu-based Al-doped ZnO (AZO) multilayer thin films has been achieved by fence engineering of graphene film. The multilayers show the excellent performance (figure of merit of 3.38 × 10 −2 Ω −1 , commutation quality factor of 430): sheet resistance of 4.37 Ω/sq., resistivity of 3.98 × 10 −5 Ω cm, and average transmittance of above 82% in the visible range, which are the highest values obtained up to now in the flexible transparent conductive films. The commutation quality factor is about four times larger than that of indium tin oxide, the most widely used flexible transparent conductive films today. To assess the application potentials, flexible organic solar cells (FOSCs) are achieved, whose efficiency is 4.63%, which is increased by 95% and 26% compared with the reference FOSCs used a conventional ITO and Cu-based AZO multilayer electrodes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible transparent conductive electrodes (FTCEs) have received a great deal of attention for various applications due to their versatile ability. To demonstrate high-performance of FTCEs, numerous efforts have been focused on high conductivity, transparency and mechanical durability against bending. However, it is still a challenge for FTCEs to apply in foldable applications due to the degradation of electrical conductivity during folding. In this paper, high-performance FTCEs with folding-insensitivity are achieved by embedding copper nanowires (Cu NWs) into polymethyl methacrylate strategy via simple sol-gel transition. The prepared film demonstrates a very high transmittance of ~94 % with a low sheet resistance of 56.3 Ω/sq. In particular, excellent insensitivity conductivity are achieved with a bending radius of 2.5 μm and the resistance remains nearly to be constant after 1000 folding cycles with a bending radius of 50 μm. Moreover, the film shows a good stability to resist long-term storage and ultrasonication. Finally, flexible transparent heater is fabricated based on the FTCEs, the immediate response make it have a great promise to be used as defrost, antifog and (light emitting diode) LED devices. • Folding-insensitive FTCEs are prepared by sol-gel technology. • The conductivity enable to achieve excellent insensitivity to the folding. • The FTCE shows a good stability to resist long-term storage and ultrasonication. • The FTCE has very high transmittance of ~94 % with sheet resistance of 56.3 Ω/sq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-synthesized copper nanowires (CuNWs) have been proposed to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) as transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) due to the abundance of Cu and low production cost. However, there has to date been no way to simultaneously improve the transparency, conductivity, adhesiveness, chemical and thermal stabilities of CuNWs that critically limit their applications. In this work, we introduce a Sb doped SnO 2 (ATO) covering layer to simultaneously improve the performances of CuNWs on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The CuNWs form a random percolating network protected by ATO layer. The unique structural features of our ATO/CuNWs composite films allow for a novel TCE with outstanding conductivity (sheet resistance: 9.6 Ω/sq), high transmittance (>85% at 550 nm), strong adhesiveness, unprecedented excellent chemical and thermal stability, as well as flexibility, these performances are far superior to other CuNW based TCEs and comparable with the expensive silver NW based TCEs. Moreover, the composites show a good stability to resist long-term storage, flushing damage, and ultrasonication. Polymer solar cells (PSCs) using ATO/CuNWs based TCEs exhibit a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.39%, which is higher than that of PSCs using ITO (5.87%), which illustrate a promising alternative to traditional TCEs for flexible electronic devices. • Performances of Flexible CuNW networks is comprehensively improved. • The physical mechanism of performance improvement is proposed. • All the performances of ATO/CuNWs are far superior to other CuNW based TCEs. • PCE of PSCs based ATO/CuNWs is higher than that of PSCs based ITO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pondering of new promising transparent conductors to replace the cost rising indium tin oxide (ITO), Cu nanowire (CuNW) films have been widely concerned, but both the adhesion and thermostability of CuNWs are very poor. In this paper, highly reliable copper nanowire transparent films on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates, with synchronously enhanced adhesion, improved thermostability and reduced resistivity, are prepared via electroplating welding at room temperature. The sheet resistance of the flexible welded CuNW films reduces from ~200 to ~30 Ω/sq at the transmittance of ~83%. Meanwhile, the sheet resistance does not show significant change after bending and taping test, suggesting a good adhesion of welded CuNW films to the PET substrate. Moreover, the flexible welded CuNW films show good stability to resist long-term storage and high temperature (150 °C). The thermal performance of the flexible welded CuNW films as visible transparent heaters via Joule heating is also assessed. Rapid response times (~30 s) at a low bias voltage (5.5 V) and good thermal resistance characteristics are found using measured thermal imaging data and thermochromic paint printed on top of the transparent heater. This simple, low-cost, and scalable CuNW electroplating welding technique provides an innovative approach for the preparation of next-generation flexible transparent electrodes for future optoelectronic devices. • High-performance CuNW films are obtained by electroplating welded junctions. • The films show enhanced adhesion, improved thermostability and conductivity. • The resistance does not show significant change after bending and taping test. • The resistance is 30 Ω/sq at transmittance of ~83% after electroplating welded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]