Fabrication and characterization of flexible hybrid transparent electrodes with broadband transparency

In this study, indium-zinc oxide (IZO)/silver (Ag)/IZO (ZAZ) flexible transparent electrodes were prepared on polyethylene terephthalate substrate using radio frequency sputtering technique. Experimental results showed that when the Ag film transited from semi-continuous state to continuous state, the ZAZ electrode exhibited high optoelectronic performance. The best ZAZ sample had a quite wide range of high transmittance and an average transmittance of 78.9% in visible light region, and sheet resistance of 6.54 Omega/sq and a Haacke Index of phi(vis) = 14.41 x 10(-3)Omega(-1). The bending test revealed that the R-c (change in sheet resistance) of ZAZ electrodes after 1000 bends was still less than 25% while the electrical properties of IZO films deteriorated after only 100 bending tests.

Automated summary

In this study, IZO/Ag/IZO flexible transparent electrodes were prepared on PET substrate using radio frequency sputtering technique. Experimental results showed that the ZAZ electrode exhibited high optoelectronic performance with high transmittance and low sheet resistance in the visible light region. Bending test revealed that the ZAZ electrodes had minimal change in sheet resistance after 1000 bends, indicating good stability compared to IZO films.