Optoelectrical Properties of Transparent Conductive Films Fabricated with Ag Nanoparticle-Suspended Emulsion under Various Formulations and Coating Conditions

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) were fabricated through bar-coating with a water-intoluene emulsion containing Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Morphological changes in the self-assembled TCF networks under different emulsion formulations and coating conditions and the corresponding optoelectrical properties were investigated. In preparing various emulsions, the concentration of AgNPs and the water weight fraction were important factors for determining the size of the water droplets, which plays a decisive role in controlling the optoelectrical properties of the TCFs affected by open cells and conductive lines. An increased concentration of AgNPs and decreased water weight fraction resulted in a decreased droplet size, thus altering the optoelectrical properties. The coating conditions, such as coating thickness and drying temperature, changed the degree of water droplet coalescence due to different emulsion drying rates, which also affected the final selfassembled network structure and optoelectrical properties of the TCFs. Systematically controlling various material and process conditions, we explored a coating strategy to enhance the optoelectrical properties of TCFs, resulting in an achieved transmittance of 86 +/- 0.2%, a haze of 4 +/- 0.2%, and a sheet resistance of 35 +/-.8 Omega/rectangle. TCFs with such optimal properties can be applied to touch screen fields.

Automated summary

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) were fabricated through bar-coating with Ag nanoparticle-containing water-toluene emulsion. The size of water droplets, which is determined by the concentration of AgNPs and water weight fraction in the emulsion, played a decisive role in controlling the optoelectrical properties of TCFs. The coating conditions, such as thickness and drying temperature, affected the coalescence of water droplets and the final self-assembled network structure and optoelectrical properties of TCFs.