Keywords:

Transparent electrode, transparent heaters, multi-scale, percolation, instability

Abstract

Materials that are both electrically conductive and optically transparent are necessary in many devices such as: touch screens, organic LED, photovoltaics, transparent heaters and wearable sensors. Different technologies exist, the main ones being composed of oxide materials, which are ceramics and thus brittle. Silver nanowire (AgNW) networks exhibit high conductivity and transparency, and moreover they are flexible and even stretchable. The associated fabrication methods are low-cost and suitable for large scale production. The present PhD thesis focuses on fundamental issues concerning the failure of AgNW networks when submitted to electrical and/or thermal stresses. Experimental and modelling approaches have been used to better understand their properties in order to optimize them; with the final goal to successfully integrate them into devices. The devices addressed in the present work concern transparent heaters for bio-chips, energy harvesting and cold emission electron devices.