Simple silver nanowire patterning using a DUV lamp direct write with sol-gel IZO capping

Abstract

Herein, we developed a simple method to pattern a silver nanowire (AgNW) electrode using a DUV lamp to directly write on an indium-zinc-oxide capped AgNW. The patterning was achieved via directly transferring the DUV-write IZO pattern to the AgNW pattern because the IZO film protected the AgNWs from melting during the subsequent thermal annealing step. The patterned AgNW electrodes retained good conducting properties on a flexible polyimide substrate after 1000 bending cycles. This DUV-lamp-write pattern method is promising to form a AgNW pattern on a large area and flexible substrate for sensor or photovoltaic applications.