Fabrication of High-Performance Silver Mesh for Transparent Glass Heaters via Electric-Field-Driven Microscale 3D Printing and UV-Assisted Microtransfer

Great challenges remain concerning the cost-effective manufacture of high-performance metal meshes for transparent glass heaters (TGHs). Here, a high-performance silver mesh fabrication technique is proposed for TGHs using electric-field-driven microscale 3D printing and a UV-assisted microtransfer process. The results show a more optimal trade-off in sheet resistance (R-s = 0.21 omega sq(-1)) and transmittance (T = 93.9%) than for indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO substitutes. The fabricated representative TGH also exhibits homogeneous and stable heating performance, remarkable environmental adaptability (constant R-s for 90 days), superior mechanical robustness (R-s increase of only 0.04 in harsh conditions-sonication at 100 degrees C), and strong adhesion force with a negligible increase in R-s (2-12%) after 100 peeling tests. The practical viability of this TGH is successfully demonstrated with a deicing test (ice cube: 21 cm(3), melting time: 78 s, voltage and glass thickness: 4 V, 5 mm). All of these advantages of the TGHs are attributed to the successful fabrication of silver meshes with high resolution and high aspect ratio on the glass substrate using the thick film silver paste. The proposed technique is a promising new tool for the inexpensive fabrication of high-performance TGHs.