Copper Nanowire/Polydopamine-Modified Sodium Alginate Composite Films with Enhanced Long-Term Stability and Adhesion for Flexible Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

Copper nanowire (CuNW), with combined advantages of high conductivity and cost-effectiveness, is considered a promising material for the development of next-generation transparent conductive films (TCFs) in the field of flexible optoelectronics. However, the practical application of CuNW TCFs is hindered by some limitations, such as conductivity degradation and poor adhesion. Here, we demonstrate a stable CuNW composite film by embedding CuNWs into a polydopamine (PDA)-modified sodium alginate (NaAlg) matrix without sacrificing the optoelectronic properties of the CuNW network. The introduction of the PDA modifier significantly enhances the antiaging capability of the NaAlg layer, providing strengthened protection of the embedded CuNWs against moisture and oxygen, thereby resulting in minimal degradation of the conductivity of CuNWs for up to 9 months under ambient conditions. Simultaneously, the interface adhesion between the CuNW network and the substrate is further enhanced due to the abundance of catechol structures in PDA, allowing for the maintenance of the electrical conductivity of the CuNW network even under cyclic external bending stress and tape-peeling forces. In addition, embedding CuNWs into the polymer binding layer produces a CuNW composite film with a very smooth surface. A flexible OLED based on the PDA-modified NaAlg/CuNW TCF is successfully fabricated, exhibiting performance comparable to that of a traditional rigid indium tin oxide-based device, while also demonstrating remarkable mechanical durability. The modification strategy can promote practical applications of the CuNW network in flexible optoelectronic devices.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of a stable copper nanowire composite film by embedding the nanowires into a polydopamine-modified sodium alginate matrix. The introduction of the polydopamine modifier enhances the aging resistance of the sodium alginate layer, providing protection against moisture and oxygen, and also enhances the adhesion between the nanowire network and the substrate. This approach maintains the conductivity of the copper nanowires and produces a very smooth composite film.