Hybrid Transparent Conductive Electrodes With Copper Nanowires Embedded In A Zinc Oxide Matrix And Protected By Reduced Graphene Oxide Platelets

Transparent conductive electrodes (TCE) were fabricated by combining three emerging nanomaterials: copper nanowires (CuNWs), zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-particulate thin films, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) platelets. Whereas CuNWs are responsible for essentially all of the electrical conductivity of our thin-film TCEs, the ZnO matrix embeds and strengthens the CuNW network in its adhesion to the substrate, while the rGO platelets provide a protective overcoat for the composite electrode, thereby improving its stability in hot and humid environments. Our CuNW/ZnO/rGO hybrid electrodes deposited on glass substrates have low sheet resistance (R-s similar to 20 ohm/sq) and fairly high optical transmittance (T550 similar to 79%). In addition, our hybrid TCEs are mechanically strong and able to withstand multiple scotch-tape peel tests. Finally, these TCEs can be fabricated on rigid glass as well as flexible plastic substrates. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.