Low Haze Transparent Conductive Electrodes and Method of Making the Same
A transparent conductive electrode comprising metal nanowires and method of making is described, wherein the transparent conductive electrode has a pencil hardness more than 1 H, nanoporous surface having pore sizes less than 25 nm and surface roughness less than 50 nm. The transparent conductive electrode further comprises an index matching layer, having a refractive index between 1.1-1.5 and a thickness between 100-200 nm.
1 . A transparent conductive film, comprising:
a substrate;
a transparent conductive layer, comprising a network of metal nanowires of more than one distinctive sizes in diameters between 10 nm to 1 um; and
an isotropic layer comprising diffused material formed in contact with the metal nanowire network;
wherein the transparent conductive electrode film has a pencil hardness more than 1 H.
2 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , wherein the isotropic layer and the transparent conductive layer is substantially the same layer, having no distinctive layer interface.
3 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , wherein the isotropic layer and the transparent conductive layer have at least one distinctive layer interface.
4 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , wherein the isotropic layer comprises a refractive index matching material.
5 . The transparent conductive film of claim 4 , wherein the refractive index matching material has a refractive index between 1.1-1.5.
6 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , wherein the conductive electrode has a thickness less than 200 nm.
7 . The transparent conductive film of claim 4 , wherein the conductive electrode has a thickness more than 100 nm.
8 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having a haze less than 2%.
9 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having a haze less than 1%.
10 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having a light transmittance more than 80% in the wavelength between 400-1000 nm.
11 . The transparent conductive film of claim 10 , having a light transmittance more than 90% in the wavelength between 400-800 nm.
12 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having a sheet resistance less than 100 ohms/square.
13 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having a surface roughness of less than 50 nm.
14 . The transparent conductive film of claim 9 , wherein the nanowires have at least an aspect ratio of 500:1.
15 . The transparent conductive film of claim 9 , wherein the nanowires have at least at least 50-100μ in length.
16 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a refractive index between 1.2-2.25.
17 . The transparent conductive film of claim 1 , having pencil hardness more than 3 H.
18 . The transparent conductive film of claim 4 , wherein the index matching layer comprises conductive materials, semi-conductive materials or nonconductive materials.
19 . A touch screen device, comprising
a transparent conductive electrode, comprising
a substrate;
a transparent conductive layer, comprising metal nanowires, deposited above of the substrate;
and an isotropic layer, comprising organic or inorganic materials, situated above the substrate,
wherein the transparent conductive electrode film has a pencil hardness more than 1 H.
20 . The touch screen device of claim 19 , wherein the conductive electrode has a haze of less than 2%