U.S. patent application number 14/360886 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-08 for transparent conductive electrodes comprising merged metal nanowires, their structure design, and method of making such structures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nuovo Film, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Nuovo Film, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hakfei Poon.
Application Number | 20150010695 14/360886 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49462746 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150010695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Poon; Hakfei |
January 8, 2015 |
Transparent conductive electrodes comprising merged metal
nanowires, their structure design, and method of making such
structures
Abstract
A method for making a nanowire-based electrode having homogenous
optical property and heterogeneous electrical property is
disclosed. The method comprises coating a first solution comprising
a first material on to the substrate to form a layer of nanowire
network; evaporating to remove the solvent in the metal nanowire
film; printing a second solution comprising a chemical reagent on
top of the formed metal nanowire network layer; and oxidizing the
first material into a second material by the chemical reagent,
wherein the first material and second material has a refractive
index difference less than 0.05 and second material is less
conductive than the first material.
Inventors: |
Poon; Hakfei; (Mountain
View, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nuovo Film, Inc. |
Jiangsu |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Nuovo Film, Inc.
Jiangsu
CN
|
Family ID: |
49462746 |
Appl. No.: |
14/360886 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
January 22, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2014/071148 |
371 Date: |
May 27, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13906330 |
May 30, 2013 |
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14360886 |
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61809224 |
Apr 5, 2013 |
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61809353 |
Apr 6, 2013 |
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61809354 |
Apr 6, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
427/97.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 2201/026 20130101;
H05K 3/125 20130101; H01B 1/22 20130101; H05K 1/0296 20130101; H05K
1/09 20130101; B82Y 30/00 20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101; B32B 7/00
20130101; B82Y 99/00 20130101; H05K 2201/0108 20130101; H05K 3/12
20130101; Y10T 428/24942 20150115; H05K 2203/0315 20130101; Y10T
428/24917 20150115; B82Y 40/00 20130101; H01M 4/38 20130101; H05K
3/1283 20130101; H05K 2203/125 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
427/97.4 |
International
Class: |
H05K 3/12 20060101
H05K003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2013 |
CN |
201310152173.0 |
Claims
1. A method for making a nanowire-based electrode having homogenous
optical property and heterogeneous electrical property. The method
of making a nanowire based conductive electrode comprises 1)
providing a substrate, 2) coating a first solution comprising a
first material on to the substrate to form a layer of nanowire
network; 3) evaporating to remove the solvent in the metal nanowire
film; 4) printing a second solution comprising a chemical reagent
on top of the formed metal nanowire network layer; 5) heating and
drying to remove the solvent in the second solution; and 6)
oxidizing the first material into a second material by the chemical
reagent, wherein the first material and second material has a
refractive index difference less than 0.05 and second material is
less conductive than the first material.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reagent is an acid
or an oxidizing agent.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first material is silver
metal.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second material is a silver
oxide or silver salts.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second solution is printed by
an inkjet printing method.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second solution is printed
according to a predetermined pattern.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second region has one
dimension less than 50 um.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region has one
dimension larger than 1 um.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a flexible
substrate.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a glass
substrate.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanowire in the first region
has a diameter less than 50 nm.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second solution is printed
by an inkjet printing method.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second solution is printed
by roll to roll printing or sheet-by-sheet method
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the resistivity ratio between
the first and second region is over 1000 times.
15. A method for making a nanowire-based electrode having
homogenous optical property and heterogeneous electrical property,
comprising 1) providing a substrate, 2) coating a first solution
comprising a first material on to the substrate to form a layer of
nanowire network; 3) evaporating to remove the solvent in the metal
nanowire film; 4) printing a second solution comprising a chemical
reagent on top of the formed nanowire network layer; 5) heating and
drying to remove the solvent in the second solution; and 6)
reducing the first material into a second material by the chemical
reagent, wherein the first material and second material has a
refractive index difference less than 0.05 and second material is
more conductive than the first material.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first material is a silver
oxide or any silver salt precursor.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second material is a silver
metal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Applications 61809224, 61809353, and 61809354, US utility
application 13906330, and Chinese patent application
201310152173.0. The subject matter as set forth in each one of the
following US utility patent applications and Chinese patent
application are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
[0002] Ser. No. 61/809,224, filed Apr. 5, 2013; [0003] Ser. No.
61/809,353, filed Apr. 6, 2013; [0004] Ser. No. 61/809,354, filed
Apr. 6, 2013; [0005] Ser. No. 13/906,330, filed may 30, 2013 and
[0006] Chinese application in 201310152173.0, file Apr. 27,
2013.
BACKGROUND
[0007] 1. Technical Field
[0008] This disclosure is related to a patterned transparent
conductive film having homogeneous optical properties but
heterogeneous electrical properties, and method of making the
same.
[0009] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0010] Optically clear and electrically conductive films made from
metal nanowires are promising replacement for ITO films, which are
used in various electronics devices such as LCDs, OLEDs and Solar
cells.
[0011] Transparent conductive films in the display and touch screen
devices, requiring the films to be patterned to have conductive
regions and non-conductive regions, while maintaining the optical
transparency. Previously, when a transparent conductive film
consisting of a mesh of silver nanowires embedded into a film of
substrate or bound on the substrate surface by an adhesive layer is
patterned, the difference between the optical properties of the
conductive regions (containing silver nanowire) and the
non-conductive regions of the film become visible to the human
eye.
[0012] A method to patterning a film having invisible edges between
conductive and non-conductive areas is needed. One solution is to
make a conductive film having identical optical properties in both
conductive and non-conductive regions. In addition, the process of
making such a patterned film should be easy to operate, scalable,
and robust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is the object of the present invention, to provide
transparent conductive film having desirable electrical and optical
properties, adaptable to any substrates, and can be manufactured
and patterned in a low-cost, high-throughput process.
[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, it discloses
conductive film compositions having homogenous optical properties
and heterogeneous electrical properties.
[0015] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a
conductive film composition having homogenous optical property and
heterogeneous electrical property. Said film comprises a first
region comprising a first material; [0016] a second region,
comprising a second material; [0017] wherein the refractive index
difference between first material and the second material is less
than 0.2, and the haze difference is less than 0.2, the second
material is an oxidation form of the first material and the second
region is less conductive than the first region.
[0018] In another embodiment, it is described herein a patterned
transparent conductive film, comprising a substrate; [0019] a
substantial single layer on top of the substrate, comprising [0020]
a first region comprising a network of metal nanowires; and [0021]
a second region, comprising a metal/metal oxide nanowire in a core
shell structure, wherein the core of the nanowire comprise element
metal and the shell of the nanowire comprise metal oxide.
[0022] In a further embodiment, it is described herein a patterned
transparent conductive film, comprising [0023] a substrate; [0024]
a substantial single layer on top of the substrate, comprising
[0025] a first region comprising a network of metal nanowires; and
[0026] a second region, comprising at least one nanowire having a
junction connected to another nanowire but electrically
non-conductive, [0027] wherein the junction comprises metal oxides
and [0028] wherein the total thickness of the single layer is about
150 nm or less and the second region has one dimension is 5-200
um.
[0029] In still a further embodiment, a conductive electrode
composition having homogenous optical property and heterogeneous
electrical property, comprising [0030] a first region, comprising a
first material; [0031] a second region, comprising a second
material; [0032] wherein the refractive index differences between
the first and second material is less than 0.2, and a haze
difference no more than 0.2%, one dimension of the first region is
at least 10 um, the first material is converted to the second
material by UV light and photo acid generator and the first region
is more conductive than the second region.
[0033] In yet another embodiment, it is described herein a
patterned transparent conductive film, comprising [0034] a
substrate; [0035] a substantial single layer on top of the
substrate, comprising [0036] a first region comprising a network of
silver nanowires and surface functionalization means for protecting
the nanowire from surface oxidation; and [0037] a second region,
comprising a plurality of silver nanowires.
[0038] In another aspect of the present invention, it discloses
several different methods to make conductive film compositions
having homogenous optical properties and heterogeneous electrical
properties.
[0039] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method
for making a nanowire-based film having homogenous optical property
and heterogeneous electrical property. The method to making a
nanowire based conductive film comprises [0040] 1) providing a
substrate, [0041] 2) coating a first solution comprising a first
material on to the substrate to form a layer of nanowire network;
[0042] 3) evaporating to remove the solvent in the metal nanowire
film; [0043] 4) printing a second solution comprising a chemical
reagent on top of the formed metal nanowire network layer, in a
pre-determined pattern; [0044] 5) heating and drying to remove the
solvent in the second solution; and [0045] 6) converting the first
material into a second material by the chemical reagent, wherein
the first material and second material has a refractive index
difference less than 0.05 and second material is less conductive
than the first material.
[0046] The method step converting the first material into a second
material by the chemical reagent, further comprises radiating UV
light without using a patterned mask.
[0047] The method step converting the first material into a second
material by the chemical reagent, further comprises applying heat
to the area where the second solution is deposited.
[0048] In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed
to a novel method to pattern a transparent conductive film. The
method of patterning the conductive film comprising [0049]
providing a substrate, [0050] coating a first solution comprising a
first material and a photo acid generator or photosensitive
materials on to the substrate to form a layer of nanowire film;
[0051] evaporating away the solvent in the metal nanowire film;
[0052] positioning a mask above the metal nanowire film, wherein
the mask has some areas permitting UV light to pass through and
some areas shielding UV light away from the nanowire film; [0053]
shining UV light above the mask; [0054] converting the first
material into a second material by the photo acid generator and UV
light, wherein the first material and second material has a
refractive index difference less than 0.2 and a haze difference
less than 0.2% second material is less conductive than the first
material; and [0055] annealing the film and removing the unreacted
photo acid generator in the area shielded by the mask.
[0056] The method to patterning an conductive film comprising
providing a substrate, forming a film comprising a first region
having metal nanowires, wherein at least some of metal nanowires
are surface functionalized and are inert to oxidation or acid
reaction; evaporating away the solvent in the metal nanowire film;
exposing the nanowire film to a chemical reagent; converting the
metal in the metal nanowire network to its oxidative state and
forming a second region, wherein the first and second region have
different electrical properties, but having substantially same or
similar optical properties, with difference in refractive indexes
less than 0.2, and difference in haze no more than 0.2%.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0057] The invention and the detailed description thereof may be
understood by reference to the following figures:
[0058] FIG. 1 is an exemplary nanowire, having a diameter of d and
length L;
[0059] FIGS. 2a-e are schematic illustrations of cross section
views of different nanowires in accordance with the aspects of the
present invention;
[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a single layer conductive
film, in accordance with the aspects in the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 4a is a cross-section diagram of an exemplary metal
nanowire network on the substrate;
[0062] FIGS. 4b and c are illustrations of the cross sections of
the films when a second solution is printed onto the substrate and
nanowire network;
[0063] FIG. 4d is an illustration of the cross section of the film
after the second solution reacted into the nanowire network.
[0064] FIG. 5a is a cross-section diagram of an exemplary metal
nanowire network on the substrate;
[0065] FIG. 5b is an illustration of the cross section of the film
when a mask is positioned above the substrate and nanowire
network;
[0066] FIG. 5c-d are illustrations of the cross section of the film
after the UV radiation.
[0067] FIG. 6a is an illustration of an exemplary metal
nanowire;
[0068] FIG. 6b is an illustration of an exemplary metal nanowire
after acid or oxidant exposure;
[0069] FIG. 6c is an illustration of the composition of another
exemplary metal nanowire in the conductive film; and
[0070] FIG. 6d is an illustration of the composition of another
exemplary metal nanowire in the conductive film after the reaction
with acid or oxidation.
[0071] FIG. 7a is an illustration of an exemplary metal nanowire
having self assembly monolayer for protecting metal nanowire from
surface oxidization;
[0072] FIG. 7b is an illustration of an exemplary metal nanowire
after acid or oxidant exposure;
[0073] FIG. 8a is an illustration of the composition of another
exemplary metal nanowire having self assembly monolayer in the
conductive film film;
[0074] FIG. 8b is an illustration of the composition of another
exemplary metal nanowire in the conductive film after the reaction
with acid or oxidation;
[0075] FIGS. 9a-b are cross sectional SEM images of a transparent
conductive electrode comprising surface functionalized metal
nanowires;
[0076] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary patterns for inkjet
printing, wherein the white lines represent where the printing
lines of the etchant;
[0077] FIG. 11 shows an SEM image of a comparative example, wherein
the second regions were all etched away;
[0078] FIG. 12 shows an SEM image wherein the second region is
oxidized instead of all etched way;
[0079] FIG. 13a is an SEM image showing the conductive film
comprising surface functionalize metal nanowires after being
patterned; and
[0080] FIG. 13b is a zoomed-in image of part of FIG. 13a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EXAMPLES
[0081] Hereinafter, selected examples of methods for making a
transparent conductive films will be discussed in the following
with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that the following discussion is for
illustration purposes, and should not be interpreted as a
limitation. Other variances within the scope of this disclosure are
also applicable.
General Description
[0082] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently
described circumstance may or may not occur, so that the
description includes instances where the circumstance occurs and
instances where it does not.
[0083] In the scope of the present invention, printing, wet coating
and alike are all referred to the general category of a wet coating
method, including inkjet printing, spray printing, nozzle printing,
gravure printing, screening printing, etc. Printing and coating can
be used interchangeably.
Nanowires
[0084] In accordance with the aspects with the present invention,
nanowire 100 have a cylindrical shape, having a diameter d and
length L as shown in FIG. 1. The aspect ratios of nanowires are
L/d. Suitable aspect ratios of the nanowires are between 100 to
100,000. In one preferred example, the aspect ratios of the
nanowires are more than 1000, in order to provide a transparent
conductive film, because longer and thinner nanowires may enable
more efficient conductive networks while permitting lower overall
density of wires for achieving a higher transparency.
Metal Nanowires
[0085] As known in the art, conductive nanowires include metal
nanowires and non-metallic nano-wires. In general, "metal nanowire"
refers to a metallic wire comprising element metal and metal
alloys. Non-metallic nanowires include, for example, carbon
nanotubes (CNTs), conductive polymer fibers and the like.
[0086] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
metal nanowires refers to substantially elemental metal and metal
alloys. Optionally, the metal nano-wires may have less than 5-10%
(by moles) of metal oxides. Metal oxides may exist in the metal
nanowire shell or core as an impurity or defect in the nanowire
synthesis. FIGS. 2a-e are schematic illustrations of cross section
views of different nanowires in accordance with the aspects of the
present invention, wherein element 200 is an elemental silver and
element 202 is an oxidative state of silver.
[0087] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
metal oxide nanowires refers to the nanowires are substantially
metal oxides. Optionally, metal oxide nanowires may have less than
5-10% (by moles) of elemental metal, due to incomplete oxidation or
any other reasons.
[0088] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
hybrid nanowires are metal/metal oxide nanowires, wherein the
nanowires, having both elemental metal and metal oxides as major
components. Metal/metal oxide hybrid nanowires may comprise 40%
(mole %) metal oxide and 60% (mole %) elemental metal. Metal/metal
oxide hybrid nanowires may comprise 60% (mole %) metal oxide and
40% (mole %) elemental metal.
[0089] The diameters of the metal nanowires, metal oxide nanowires,
or hybrid nanowires are less than 200 nm, and less than 100 nm, and
more preferably less than 50 nm.
[0090] Suitable elemental metal employed in nanowires can be based
on any metal, including without limitation, silver, gold, copper,
nickel, and gold-plated silver. In one example, silver nanowires
are used to make the conductive electrode film because of the small
refractive index difference between elemental silver and silver
oxide.
[0091] Optionally, the metal nanowires, metal oxide nanowires and
hybrid nanowires, further comprises other minor component, for
example, but not limited to, seeding element from the nanowire
synthesis.
[0092] FIGS. 2a-e are schematic illustrations of the cross section
views of different nanowires. FIG. 2a is an exemplar metal
nanowire, wherein element 200 is a cross section of silver
nanowire. FIG. 2b is an exemplar metal/metal oxide hybrid nanowire,
wherein the metal oxide and metal are arranged in a core shell
structure, having metal nanowire form the core and metal oxide
become the shell wrapping around the core. FIG. 2c is an exemplar
metal/metal oxide hybrid nanowire, wherein the metal oxide and
metal are arranged in a pseudo core shell structure, wherein the
"core" has more elemental metal than the metal oxide and the
"shell" has more metal oxide than elemental metal. In one example,
FIG. 2c occurs as the result of an oxidation reaction on a metal
nanowire, wherein only the exposed elemental are oxidized and the
surface of the metal nanowire does not get exposed equally to the
oxidative reagent or condition. FIG. 2d is an exemplar metal/metal
oxide hybrid nanowire, wherein the metal oxide and metal are
arranged randomly, but still having a pattern that there are more
metal oxide on the surface of the nanowire, and there is less metal
inside the nanowire. FIG. 2e is an exemplar metal oxide hybrid
nano-wire, wherein both the core and shell of the nano-wire are
predominantly metal oxide.
[0093] FIGS. 2a-e are exemplar illustrations and should not be
construed as limitations. The contours of the nanowires, if are
marked, it is only intended for clarity purposes. The interfaces
and boundaries between different chemical components are either
visible or not visible. It is depends on the refractive index of
the metal and metal oxide.
Optical and Electrical Characteristics of the Nanowires
[0094] Generally for a single nanowire, its resistivity is based on
its diameter. The larger the diameter of the nanowire, the smaller
the resistivity or it is more conductive. However, the larger the
diameter of the nanowire, it blocks more light and become less
transparent. Therefore an optimal diameter range is desired in
order to achieve both highly conductive and highly transparent
metal nanowires.
[0095] In addition, in order for a metal nanowire to be conductive
across a substrate either laterally or horizontally, the single
metal nanowire (s) needs to 1) extends through a region or to 2) be
connected to a number of other nanowires. Therefore the longer the
single nanowire length, in principle the longer the conductive
pathway. In typical examples of the present invention, an aspect
ratio above 1000 is desired.
Conductive Film
[0096] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
when a plurality of nanowires is deposited onto a substrate to make
a conductive film, the film formed is substantially a single layer.
In the conductive film, the nanowires are arranged at least above a
minimal concentration, so called percolation threshold, so that the
nanowires are not spaced too far apart from each other to form a
conductive pathway.
[0097] When a plurality of single nanowires is networked together
to form a multiple interconnected conductive pathways, said
plurality of the nanowires is referred to as clusters. When two or
more nanowire clusters are networked together, a conductive layer
or film is formed. In accordance with the aspect of the present
invention, nanowire dusters has size of less than 200 nm in one
dimension, more typically less than 100 or 50 nm in one
dimension.
[0098] As used herein, "a single layer" or "a substantial single
layer" is generally less than 150 nm, which is about three-nanowire
thickness. More typically, "a single layer" or "a substantial
single layer" is generally less than 100 nm, two-nanowire
thickness. Preferably, "a single layer" or "a substantial single
layer" is generally 50 nm or less, one nanowire thickness. In
various embodiments, the thickness of the nano-clusters are in the
range of 10 to 0.40 nm, 20 to 40 nm, 5 to 20 nm, 10 to 30 nm, 40 to
60 nm, 50 to 70 nm.
[0099] The clusters are formed by nanowires isotropically or
anisotropicaily. The nanoclusters can also have a pseudo diameter,
pseudo length and pseudo aspect ratio. Lengthwise, anisotropic
nanoclusters (e.g., a plurality networked nanowires, pseudo aspect
ratio does not equal to one) are more than 500 nm, or more than 1
.mu.m, or more than 10 .mu.m in length. In various embodiments, the
lengths of the nanoclusters are in the range of 5 to 30 .mu.m, or
in the range of 15 to 50 .mu.m, 25 to 75 .mu.m, 30 to 60 .mu.m, 40
to 80 .mu.m, or 50 to 100 .mu.m.
[0100] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
when the conductive film is patterned into conductive regions and
non-conductive regions, conductive regions comprise interconnected
or networked nanoclusters, whereas the non-conductive region
comprise segregated or isolate nanoclusters.
[0101] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
when the metal nanowire is silver nanowire, one silver nanowire is
present in a nanocluster. In one example, said silver within the
nanocluster is oxidized into a silver oxide nanowire. The
interruption in the conductive pathway turned connected
nanoclusters into isolated nanolusters, which further turning a
region from conductive region into a nonconductive region.
[0102] The conductive films described herein, are having conductive
regions and non conductive regions. Conductive regions and
nonconductive regions are together referred as patterns in the
conductive film. In accordance with aspects of the present
invention, in one embodiment, the nonconductive regions are formed
from the conductive regions through oxidation, photo oxidation
reaction or even fragmentation reactions. As a result, the
nonconductive regions comprise nanowires having metals in the
oxidative states and metal nanowires are shorter in length than
that of conductive regions (parent). The conductive regions
typically comprise metal nano-wires having high aspect ratios.
Optionally, the conductive region may further comprise metal
nanowires having surface functionalization means, protecting the
metal nanowires from undergo undesired oxidation, photo-oxidation
or fragmentation.
[0103] In view of the foregoing discussion, the present invention
discloses patterned conductive films with excellent optical
properties, electrical properties and mechanical properties. The
patterned transparent conductive films disclosed herein have an
optical transmittance higher than 90%, a haze value less than 2%,
and typically less than 1%, while maintaining the sheet resistance
lower than 100 Ohms/sq and typically less than 50 Ohms/sq.
Super Long and Thin Nanowires
[0104] The patterned conductive film in the present invention
comprises a substrate, and a substantially single layer of
conductive materials deposited on top of the substrate. The single
layer conductive material comprises one or more metal nanowires.
Longer and thinner than conventional metal nanowires are employed
in the film to achieve high transparency, low haze and high
conductivity in the conductive region and high resolution in the
patterned conductive film.
[0105] In one embodiment of the present invention, the patterned
transparent conductive film comprises nanowires having a longer
than usual length and thinner than usual diameters. The usual
length is defined as about 10-20 micrometers in length and the
usual diameters are defined as about 50-100 nm in diameters in the
scope of the present invention.
[0106] Transparent conductive films in the art typically employing
metal nanowires having diameters around 50-100 nm, with 10-20
micrometers in length. The patterned transparent conductive films
disclosed in the present invention, comprises metal nanowires are
less than 50 nm in diameters and longer than about 20-100
micrometers. In one preferred example of the present invention, the
patterned transparent conductive film comprises nanowires having
less than 30 nm in diameters. The longer and thinner metal
nanowires significantly reduces the amount of light scattering and
the contrast between the areas having nanowires and the areas
without, leading to a conductive film with lower haze. In addition,
the longer than usual nanowires further facilitates the electron
transport within the conductive region of the film, leading to
improved electrical conductivity and reduced sheet resistance. In
the examples of the present invention, the patterned transparent
film comprises metal nanowires having less than 50 nm in diameters
and 20-100 micrometers in length, have an optical transmittance
higher than 90%, a haze value less than 0.6%, while maintaining the
sheet resistance lower than 50 Ohms/sq.
[0107] The unusual long and unusual thin metal nanowires can be
made by a two-step synthesis method. Apart from the conventional
one step process of making metal nanowires in the art, which
typically lead to metal nanowires 80-100 nm in diameters and 20-30
micrometers in length, the method disclosed in the present
invention comprises a two-step process. A first step is a
proceeding step, forming most of the nanowire nucleation seeds. A
second step is a growing step, where the nucleation seeds grow
preferentially in one dimension in a controlled manner. Further,
the nucleation seeds can be purified before being used in the
growing step. Subsequently, the metal nanowires collected after the
growing step can be further purified to have nanowires with even
narrower distribution in length and diameters. Comparing the
conventional one step method, the two-step process has two
advantages. First, the proceeding step incubates the formation of
the nucleation seed, which significantly reduces the concentration
of the nanowire "growing centers". Second, the growing step is
conditioned that the precursors are continuously growing in one
predetermined direction in length, thus reducing the formation of
junctions and branches in the metal nanowire network.
Substrate
[0108] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention,
substrate refers to a material onto which the conductive layer is
coated on top of. The substrate can be either rigid or flexible.
The substrate is preferred to be highly transparent in the visible
wavelength. Exemplar rigid substrates include, glass,
polycarbonates, particularly high refractive index polycarbonates,
acrylics, and the like. Exemplar flexible substrates include, but
are not limited to: polyesters (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), polyester naphthalate (PEN), and poly-carbonate, polyolefins
(e.g., linear, branched, and cyclic polyolefins), and other
conventional polymeric films,
Properties of a the Patterned Film
[0109] Typically, the optical transparence or clarity of the
conductive film can be quantitatively defined by parameters
including light transmission and haze. "Light transmission" refers
to the percentage of an incident light transmitted through a
medium. In various embodiments, the light transmission of the
conductive layer is at least 90% and can be as high as 98%.
[0110] Haze is an index of light diffusion. It refers to the
percentage of quantity of light separated from the incident light
and scattered during transmission. Unlike light transmission, which
is largely a property of the medium, haze is often a production
concern and is typically caused by surface roughness and embedded
particles or compositional heterogeneities in the medium. In
various embodiments, the haze of the patterned transparent
conductive film is no more than 5% and may be as low as no more
than 2% to 0.5%.
Wet Coating Process
[0111] The transparent conductive film can be fabricated by any
feasible wet coating method, including sheet coating, web-coating,
printing, spraying, gravure printing, and slot die coating,
transfer printing or lamination. If the substrate is a flexible
substrate, roll to roll coating is preferred for large area and
high throughput. Sheet Coating or lamination is more suitable when
the conductive film is formed on top of rigid substrate, for
example glass. Both roll-to-roll or sheet coating can be fully
automated to dramatically reduces the cost of fabricating
transparent conductive films. All the patterning methods described
herein, can be run on a fully integrated line, or serially in
parallel processes.
Composition 1
[0112] As an illustrative example, FIG. 3 shows a patterned
transparent conductive film comprising a substrate and a
substantial single layer coated on the substrate. The single layer
comprises a plurality of metal nanowires. The metal nanowires form
a conductive network. The film comprises a first region and second
region, which is not shown from this cross sectional view.
[0113] The present invention is directed to a composition and
method of manufacturing nanowire based conductive film. Said
nanowire based film has a pattern invisible to the human eye.
Invisible to the human eye means the interface between the regions
in the patterned conductive film is not visible when observing
under the visible light.
[0114] The present invention is directed to a composition and
method of manufacturing a nanowire based conductive film. The film
comprises a first region comprising a first material and a second
region comprising a second material, wherein the difference of
refractive index between the first and second region is less than
0.05.
[0115] The present invention is directed to a composition and
method of manufacturing a nanowire based conductive film. The film
comprises a first region comprising a first material and a second
region comprising a second material, wherein at least one dimension
of the second region is less than 10 um. Optionally, one dimension
of the second region is longer than 50 um. Optionally, one
dimension of the second region less than 5-10 um.
[0116] The present invention is directed to a composition and
method of manufacturing a nanowire based conductive film. The film
comprises a first region comprising a first material and a second
region comprising a second material, wherein the distance between
one first region to another first region is longer than 5 um.
Optionally, the distance between one first region to another first
region is longer than 10 um.
[0117] The pattern comprises electrical conductive regions and
electrical non-conductive regions. The refractive index difference
between the electrical conductive region and electrical
non-conductive regions is less than 0.2. The transmittance
difference between the electrical conductive region and electrical
non-conductive regions is less than 0.2. The haze differences
between the electrical conductive region and electrical
non-conductive regions is less than 0.3-0.5. The sheet resistance
of electrical conductive regions are less than 300 .OMEGA./sq. The
sheet resistance of electrical non-conductive regions are more than
1000 .OMEGA./sq.
[0118] The pattern comprises electrical conductive regions and
electrical non-conductive regions. The conductive region is
converted into the non-conductive regions by an oxidation
reaction.
[0119] In one example of the present invention, the first region of
the film comprises silver nanowire. Upon reaction with a chemical
solution, silver is converted into silver oxide, which forms the
second region. The refractive index of the film containing silver
metal is 1.6 and the refractive index of the film containing silver
oxide is 1.59. The refractive index difference between the film
containing silver metal and the film containing silver oxide is
0.01. The chemical solution is anything capable of oxidizing silver
into silver metal, for example an oxidizing agent solution. The
silver is the sole or primary conductive material for the
conductive region and silver oxide is the sole or primary converted
material for the non-conductive region.
[0120] In a further example, when the silver nanowire is oxidized
to form the second region, it forms a silver oxide/silver hybrid
nanowire (FIG. 2a-e). In one instance of the present example, the
silver oxide/silver is arranged in a core shell structure, wherein
silver nanowire is the core, and the silver oxide forms the shell
coating over the silver nanowire core. In another instance of the
present invention, the silver oxide/silver is arranged in a pseudo
core shell structure, wherein the surface of the hybrid nanowire
has more silver oxide than silver, and the core of the hybrid
nanowire has more elemental silver than silver oxide. In still
another instance of the present invention, the silver oxide is
formed randomly in the silver nanowire. In yet another instance,
when silver is oxidized into silver oxide to form the second
region, it oxidation undergo to the completion and yield silver
oxide nanowire.
[0121] In one example of the present invention, the first region of
the film comprises silver nanowire. Upon reaction with a chemical
solution, silver is converted into a silver salt. Examples of the
silver salt includes silver halides, silver nitrate and silver
sulfate, and the like. The refractive index of the film containing
silver metal is 1.6 and the refractive index of the film containing
silver oxide is 1.59. The refractive index difference between the
film containing silver metal and the film containing silver oxide
is 0.01. The chemical solution is anything capable of oxidizing
silver into silver metal, for example an acid solution. The silver
is the sole or primary conductive material for the conductive
region and silver oxide is the sole or primary converted material
for the non-conductive region.
[0122] The first region, an electrical conductive region, and the
second region, a non-electrical conductive region, as formed based
on the disclosure herein, has a conductivity ratio of the
conductive region over non conductive region more than 1000, and
wherein the conductive region and the non conductive region are
optically uniform.
Methods 1-3
[0123] A patterned conductive film can be formed by selectively
oxidizing the nanowire region. The oxidizing agent can be placed
onto the conductive film after the film of metal nanowire is
formed. Alternative, the oxidizing agent can be mixed into the
nanowire ink and made into the nanowire film.
[0124] The curing process can be carried out photolytically or
thermally. FIGS. 4a-d illustrates an embodiment in which a
conductive layer is thermally-patterned. FIGS. 5a-d and 6a-d
illustrates an embodiment in which a conductive layer is
photolytically patterned.
[0125] In some embodiments, thermal-patterning can be carried out
using an insulating thermal mask (e.g., an aperture mask), which
only exposes regions to be converted to a heat source.
[0126] In other embodiments, photolytically patterning can be
achieved by using a mask. In such a process, the mask provides
areas of openings and areas of shadows, wherein the openings
permits the UV through to convert the metal nanowires to metal
oxides while the shadows protecting the metal nanowire in the
conductive region to be oxidized.
[0127] Alternatively, both thermal-patterning or photolytically
patterning can be achieve using a mask-less approach. In a
mask-less approach, the oxidizing agent is directly-written onto
the layer or film of metal nanowire in a predetermined pattern.
Applying heat or UV radiation throughout the film can only create
oxidation reaction in the areas where the oxidizing chemicals are
deposited, thus leading to the predetermined patterns.
[0128] Both the photo-patterning method and thermal-patterning
method are compatible with wet coating process described, which are
easily scalable to large areas of substrates and offers low cost
high throughput manufacturing.
[0129] The present invention provides a method to make patterned
transparent conductive film. The patterned transparent film
comprises two regions, a first region, a conductive region and a
second region, non-conductive region, wherein the first region is
converted to a second region by an oxidation reaction.
[0130] First, a substrate is cleaned and a first solution
comprising metal nanowires, preferably silver nanowires are coated
onto the substrate. After drying to remove the solvent, a film of
metal nanowire network 102 is formed.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 4b, then a second solution 104 is printed
onto surface of the nanowire film 102 in designated areas. Depends
on the resolution and throughput requirement, various printing
method can be used to deliver the second solution to the surface of
the nanowire film. In one example, ink jet printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another conductive region
is at least 5 um. In another example, screen printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another conductive region
is at least 50 um. In another example, gravure printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another is at least 1 um.
In another example, the substrate can first be masked with
photoresist patterns and then immersed into a bath of the second
solution. The distance between one conductive region to another
conductive region is defined by the photoresist pattern and can be
at least 0.5 um.
[0132] Upon drying, the solvent in the second solution is
evaporated and the area contacted with solution 104 is converted to
106, wherein 102 and 106 has different chemical composition.
[0133] Optionally, refer to FIG. 3, before the solvent of the
second solution 104 is evaporated, heating is employed is
facilitate the chemical oxidation from 102 to 106.
[0134] After the removal of solution 104, 102 is converted into
106. In one example, 102 is a conductive region and 106 is non
conductive region. 102 is a film containing silver nanowire network
and 106 is the film containing metal oxides of the silver metal, or
partially oxidized silver nanowires, or shorter nanowires not
overlapping with each other, a less conductive or non-conductive
region.
[0135] The present invention provides a method to make patterned
transparent conductive film. The patterned transparent film
comprises two regions, a first region, a conductive region and a
second region, non-conductive region, wherein the first region is
converted to a second region by a reduction reaction.
[0136] First, a substrate is cleaned and a first solution
comprising metal oxide nanowires, preferably silver oxide nanowires
or composite fibers with silver oxide are coated onto the
substrate. After drying to remove the solvent, a film of metal
oxide nanowire network 102 is formed.
[0137] Referring to FIG. 4b, then a second solution 104 is printed
onto surface of the nanowire film 102 in designated areas. Depends
on the resolution and throughput requirement, various printing
method can be used to deliver the second solution to the surface of
the nanowire film. In one example, ink jet printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another conductive region
is at least 10 um. In another example, screen printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another conductive region
is at least 50 um. In another example, gravure printing is used and
distance between one conductive region to another is at least 1 um.
In another example, the substrate can first be masked with
photoresist patterns and then immersed into a bath of the second
solution. The distance between one conductive region to another
conductive region is defined by the photoresist pattern and can be
at least 0.5 um.
[0138] Upon drying, the solvent in the second solution is
evaporated and the area contacted with solution 104 is converted to
106, wherein 102 and 106 has different chemical composition, 102 is
the oxide(s) or oxidation state of 106.
[0139] Optionally, refer to FIG. 4c, before the solvent of the
second solution 104 is evaporated, heating is employed is
facilitate the chemical reduction conversion from 102 to 106.
[0140] After the removal of solution 104, 102 is converted into
106. In one example, 102 is a less conductive region and 106 is a
more conductive region. In one preferred example, the 102 is silver
oxide and 106 is silver metal.
Oxidizing Agents
[0141] Oxidizing agents can be anything as long as the chemical
agent is strong enough to convert elemental metal to metal oxide,
particularly converting silver into silver oxide. In one preferred
example, the oxidizing agent is a photo-acid generator. The
advantage of using photo-acid generator over other oxidizing agent
is it can be removed relatively easily after the pattern is made.
The photo-acid generator can be directed printed onto the nanowire
surface as in FIG. 4b, and the followed the process illustrated in
FIGS. 4a-d to create patterns. Or the photo-acid generator can be
mixed with the nanowires solution and printed onto the substrate
together as in FIG. 5a, and the followed the process illustrated in
FIGS. 5a-d to create patterns. Or the photo-acid generator can be
printed as a separate player (107) onto the nanowire surface as in
FIG. 6b, and the followed the process illustrated in FIGS. 6a-d to
create patterns.
Example 1 of Using a Photo Acid Generator
[0142] In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a
composition and method of manufacturing a nanowire based conductive
film. The film comprises a first region comprising a first material
and a second region comprising a second material. In some examples,
the second material is generated from the first material by a
combination of UV light and photo acid generator.
[0143] In one example of the present invention, the first region of
the film comprises silver nanowire and at least one photosensitive
compound. Upon irradiation with UV light, the photosensitive
compound degrades to generate acid, which converts silver into
silver oxide. The refractive index of first region containing
silver metal is 1.6 and the refractive index of the silver oxide is
1.59. The refractive index difference between the silver metal and
silver oxide is 0.01.
[0144] The present invention provides a method to make patterned
transparent conductive film. The patterned transparent film
comprises two regions, a first region, a conductive region and a
second region, less-conductive or non-conductive region, wherein
the first region is converted to a second region by a photo
oxidation reaction.
[0145] First, a substrate is cleaned and a first solution
comprising metal nanowires, preferably silver nanowires, together
with at least one photo acid generator, are coated onto the
substrate. After drying to remove the solvent, a film of metal
nanowire network 103 comprising photo acid generator is formed.
[0146] Referring to FIG. 5b, then a mask 105 is then positioned
above the surface of the nanowire film 103. The mask has designated
openings, allowing UV light to pass through.
[0147] Upon UV radiation, referring to FIG. 5c, the photo acid
generator, in the area exposed to the UV light, is activated,
converting the metal nanowire into the corresponding metal
oxide.
[0148] After the oxidation reaction, heating the film decompose
unreacted photo acid generator as shown in FIG. 5d. 103 is
converted into a metal nanowire network 102. The film is absent
from photo acid generator.
Example 2 of Using a Photo Acid Generator
[0149] The present invention provides a method to make patterned
transparent conductive film. The patterned transparent film
comprises two regions, a first region, a conductive region and a
second region, less-conductive or non-conductive region, wherein
the first region is converted to a second region by UV
radiation.
[0150] First, as shown in FIG. 6a, a substrate is cleaned and a
first solution comprising metal nanowires, preferably silver
nanowires, are coated onto the substrate. After drying to remove
the solvent, a film of metal nanowire network 102 is formed.
[0151] Referring to FIG. 6b, subsequently, another layer 107
comprising photo acid generator is deposited directly on top of the
film 102. In the film 107, photo acid generator is homogenously
spread throughout the film.
[0152] Then, a mask 105 is then positioned above the surface of the
layer 107. The mask has designated openings, allowing UV light to
pass through. The photo acid generator in the area exposed to the
UV light is activated, converting the metal nanowire 102 into the
corresponding metal oxide 106, as illustrated in FIG. 6d.
[0153] After the oxidation reaction, unreacted photo acid generator
107 as shown in FIG. 8, is washed away or decomposed by heating.
The final product comprises a silver nanowire region and an
oxidative product of silver nanowire region.
[0154] In accordance with the present invention, photo acid
generator can be deposited onto the substrate by any wet coating
method. The printing, wet coating and alike are all referred to the
general category of a wet coating method, including inkjet
printing, spray printing, nozzle printing, gravure printing,
screening printing, etc. Printing and coating can be used
interchangeably.
[0155] Examples of photo acid generators include, but are not
limited to, the non-ionic and ionic photoacid generators from BASF,
such as Irgacure PAG 103, Irgacure PAG 121, Irgacure PAG 203, CGI
725, CGI 1907, Irgacure 250, Irgacure PAG 290, and GSID26-1.
[0156] In one embodiment of the present invention, the film of
nanowires is first prepared on top of a substrate. IR laser is
shined onto the film of nanowire through a photo mask while
heating. In one example, the substrate and the nanowire film are
heated at 250 C for 10 min. In another example, the substrate and
the nanowire film are heated at 300 C for 1 min. The heating
temperature and time is optimized according the size of the
substrate, and other process parameters and economics.
[0157] In another embodiment of the present invention, the film of
nanowire are first prepared on the top of the substrate. After
drying, a solvent is introduced into the nanowire network. The
solvent can be introduced by ink jet printing or spray coating
through a mask, or a gravure printing. The solvent swells the
nanowire network, changes the arrangement of the metal nanowire
network by dissolving or partially dissolving the binder or other
organic modifier in the film. As a result the rearrangement of the
metal nanowires can cause isolate nanowire clusters which makes the
film less or not conductive. Exemplar solvent includes
alcohol-based solvents, such as isopropanol.
Method 5--Surface functionalization
[0158] To provide further resolution into patterning, the present
invention is directed to another method of manufacturing patterned
nanowire based conductive film, wherein the patterned conductive
film comprise conductive regions and non conductive regions, and
the conductive regions comprise nanowires protected by surface
functionalization means. Exemplar surface functionalization means
are self assembly monolayers on the metal nanowire. FIGS. 9a and 9b
are cross sectional SEM images of the transparent conductive
electrodes comprising surface functionalized metal nanowires.
[0159] In one embodiment of the present invention, it is directed
to a material composition of the conductive film. The conductive
film comprises a substrate; a substantially single layer on top of
the substrate, wherein the single layer comprise surface
functionalized metal nanowires and non-surface functionalized metal
nanowires. The surface functionalized metal nanowires are
chemically inert to the subsequent reaction with acid or other
oxidation reagent. The non-surface functionalized metal nanowires
are capable of undergoing chemical conversion when exposed to acid
or other oxidative reagent.
[0160] The surface functionalized metal nanowires form a first
region of the film. After the non-surface functionalized metal
nanowires are converted to the corresponding oxidative state to
form a second region of the film. The first region is a conductive
region and second region is a less conductive or non-conductive
region. In one example, the first region comprises silver metal. In
another example, the second region comprises silver salt. In still
another example, the second region comprises silver oxide. The
first region contains conductive network with surface
functionalized metal nanowires and non-surface functionalized metal
nanowires. The second region comprises surface functionalized metal
nanowires and converted silver salts and silver oxide.
[0161] The first region and second region of the present embodiment
have substantially same optical properties. In another words the
self assembly monolayers as surface functionalization means for the
metal nanowires in the first region does not offer significant
refractive index change. The patterned conductive film the
difference in refractive index between the first and second region
is less than 0.2, and the difference in haze is no more than 0.2%.
In one example first region contains silver, having a refractive
index of 1.61. In another example, the second region contains
silver oxide, having a refractive index of 1.59.
[0162] The single layer in the patterned conductive film has
surface functionalized nanowires and non-surface functionalized
nanowires.
[0163] In one example, the surface functionalized nanowire and
non-surface functionalized nanowire are the different portions of
the same nanowire, as shown in FIG. 7a. Upon oxidation or acid
exposure, referring to FIG. 7b, the nanowire in FIG. 7a can first
be oxidized and then be fragment into two parts, having the surface
functionalized portions de-attached from each other. This reduces
the original length of the nanowire, making the converted region
less conductive. If the all the nanowires in the converted region
is fragmented, the average length of the nanowires in the
fragmented region is less than half of the original length, which
is the same average length of the first region comprising nanowires
which are self assembly monolayer protected.
[0164] In another example, the surface functionalized nanowire and
non-surface functionalized nanowire are different nanowires, as
shown in FIG. 8a. Upon oxidation or acid exposure, referring to
FIG. 8b, the nanowire without the surface functionalization
disintegrates, leaving the surface functionalized nanowires
maintaining its length. The surface functionalized nanowire is a
completely functionalized nanowire, synthesized, characterized and
purified before use. A mixture of completely functionalized
nanowire and non-surface functionalized metal nanowire in a
controlled ratio is used to prepare the nanowire film in the
patterned conductive film.
[0165] In still another example, the surface functionalized
nanowire and non-surface functionalized nanowire are both different
portions of the same nanowire as in FIG. 7a and different
nanowires, as shown in FIG. 8a. Upon oxidation or acid exposure,
some nanowires disintegrates, reducing in length but some keeping
its original length. The mixture of the nanowire can be an average
or statistical mixture of the functionalized nanowire and
non-surface functionalized metal nanowires.
[0166] The present invention is directed to a method of
manufacturing a patterned nanowire based conductive film. The film
comprises a first region comprising functionalized metal nanowires
and a second region comprising the oxidative state or salt of the
same metal in the first region.
[0167] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method of
patterning the
conductive film comprises providing a substrate, forming a film
comprising a first region having metal nanowires, wherein at least
some of metal nanowires are surface functionalized and inert to
oxidation or acid reactions; evaporating away the solvent in the
metal nanowire film; exposing the nanowire film to a chemical
reagent; converting the metal in the metal nanowire network to its
oxidative state and forming a second region, wherein the first and
second region have different electrical properties, but having
substantially same or similar optical properties, with difference
in refractive indexes are less than 0.2, and the difference in haze
is no more than 0.2%.
[0168] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method of
patterning the
conductive film comprises providing a substrate, forming a film
comprising a surface functionalized silver nanowire wherein some
portion of the nanowire is surface functionalized and inert to
oxidation or etching, exposing the film to etchants or oxidants and
reacting the nanowire with oxidants/acids, disintegrating the
unprotected non-surface functionalized nanowire into segments;
wherein the arrangement of surface functionalized portions and
non-surface functionalized portions on a nanowire can be regularly
or randomly pitched. The randomly pitched non-surface
functionalized area can occur as coverage defects or insufficient
coverage of surface molecule assembly on nanowires.
Post Treatment of the Patterned Transparent Conductive Film
[0169] After the transparent conductive film is patterned into
desired conductive regions and non conductive regions, the
application of heat may also be used at this point as a
post-treatment. Typically, the patterned transparent conductive
film exposed to anywhere from 80.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. for
up to 10 min, and more preferably is exposed to anywhere from
100.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. for anywhere from about 10 seconds
to 2 minutes. The transparent conductive film can also be exposed
to temperatures higher than 250.degree. C. and can be even higher,
depending on the type of substrate. For example, glass substrate
can be heat-treated at a temperature range of about 350.degree. C.
to 400.degree. C. However, post treatments at higher temperatures
(e.g., higher than 250.degree. C.) require the presence of a
non-oxidative atmosphere, such as nitrogen.
[0170] In another examples, an infrared lamp could be used as
either independently or together with the heating method to anneal
the patterned transparent film. Again, the post anneal is
recommended to perform in an inert atmosphere.
Other Functional Layers
[0171] The patterned conductive film can further comprise other
functional layers, in order to meet end use applications. Other
functional layers include an adhesive layer, anti-reflective layer,
anti-glare layer, barrier layers, hard coats, and protective films.
These other functional layers are employed sometimes to enhance the
overall optical performance and improve the mechanical properties
of the transparent conductive film. These additional layers, also
referred to as "performance-enhancing layers", can be one or more
anti-reflective layers, anti-glare layers, adhesive layers, barrier
layers, and hard coats. In certain embodiments, one
performance-enhancing layer provides multiple benefits. For
example, an anti-reflective layer can also function as a hard coat
mod/ora barrier layer. In addition to their specific properties,
the performance-enhancing layers are optically clear.
[0172] "Anti-reflective layer" refers to a layer that can reduce
reflection loss at a reflective surface of the transparent
conductive film. The anti-reflective layer can therefore be
positioned on the outer surfaces of the transparent conductive
film. Materials suitable as anti-reflective layers are well known
in the art, including without limitation: fluoropolymers,
fluoropolymer blends or copolymers, at about 100 nm thick or 200 nm
in thickness.
[0173] "Anti-glare layer" refers to a layer that reduces unwanted
reflection at an outer surface of the transparent conductive film
by providing fine roughness on the surface to scatter the
reflection. Suitable anti-glare materials are well known in the
art, including without limitation, siloxanes, polystyrene/PMMA
blend, lacquer (e.g., butyl acetate/nitrocellulose/wax/alkyd
resin), polythiophenes, polypyrroles, polyurethane, nitrocellulose,
and acrylates, all of which may comprise a light diffusing material
such as colloidal or fumed silica. Blends and copolymers of these
materials can have microscale compositional heterogeneities, which
can also exhibit light diffusion behavior to reduce glare.
[0174] "Hard coat", or "anti-abrasion layer" refers to a coating
that provides additional surface protection against scratches and
abrasion. Examples of suitable hard coats include synthetic
polymers such as polyacrylics, epoxy, polyurethanes, polysilanes,
silicones, poly(silico-acrylic) and so on. Typically, the hard coat
also comprises colloidal silica. The thickness of the hard coat is
typically from about 1 to 50 .mu.m.
[0175] "Adhesive layer" refers to any optically clear material that
bonds two adjacent layers (e.g., conductive layer and substrate)
together without affecting the physical, electrical or optical
properties of either layer. Optically clear adhesive material are
well known in the art, including without limitation: acrylic
resins, chlorinated olefin resins, resins of vinyl chloride-vinyl
acetate copolymer, maleic acid resins, chlorinated rubber resins,
cyclorubber resins, polyamide resins, cumarone indene resins,
resins of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester resins,
urethane resins, styrene resins, polysiloxanes and the like.
[0176] "Barrier layer" refers to a layer that reduces or prevents
gas or fluid permeation into the transparent conductive film. It
has been shown that corroded metal nanowires can cause a
significant decrease in the electrical conductivity as well as the
light transmission of the conductive layer. The barrier layer can
effectively inhibit atmospheric corrosive gas from entering the
conductive layer and contacting the metal nanowires in the matrix.
The barrier layers are well known in the art, including without
limitation: see, e.g. U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0253463,
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,560,998 and 4,927,689, EP Patent No. 132,565, and
JP Patent No. 57,061,025. Moreover, any of the anti-reflective
layer, anti-glare layer and the hard coat can also act as a barrier
layer.
[0177] In certain embodiments, the patterned transparent conductive
film may further comprise a protective film above the conductive
layer (the layer comprise metal nanowires). The protective film is
typically flexible and can be made of the same material as the
flexible substrate. Examples of protective film include, but are
not limited to: polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylic
resin, polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, or the like; particularly
preferable is PET, PC, PMMA, or TAC because of their high
strength.
In Devices
[0178] The patterned transparent conductive films as described
herein can be used as films in a wide variety of devices, including
any device that currently makes use of transparent conductive films
such as metal oxide films. Examples of suitable devices include
flat panel displays, LCDs, touch screens, electomagnetic
shieldings, functional glasses (e.g., for electrochromic windows),
optoelectronic devices, and the like. In addition, the transparent
conductive herein can be used in flexible devices, such as flexible
displays and touch screens.
Example 1
Synthesis of Silver Nanowires
[0179] 51 g of PVP is first dissolved in 500 mL of glycerol solvent
and heated to 15.degree. C. In the meantime, 51 g of silver nitrate
is dissolved in 300 ml of glycerol separately to form silver
nitrate solution. Then, the silver nitrate solution is added to the
PVP solution at a constant rate of 20 ml/min for 9 minutes; this is
then followed by adding the remaining portion of silver nitrate
solution at 4 ml/min for another 30 minutes. The reaction is
allowed to proceed for another 3 hours before it is quenched by
mixing equal volume of cold water (20 C). The reaction mixture was
then solvent exchanged by repeated centrifuge and re-dispersion in
desired solvents. Choices of solvent for the
centrifuge/re-dispersion processes is determined by the desired
dispersing medium for nanowire in ink formulation, e.g. water or
ethanol. Typical amount of solvent used in re-dispersion is about
50.times. or more of the remaining solid collected by centrifuged.
The whole process is repeated at least 3 times.
Example 2
Preparation of a Transparent Conductive Film
[0180] Silver nanowires (25 um, 60 nm) were first prepared by
polyol process and followed by purification. Then 0.15 g of
purified nanowires was dispersed in a 50 ml of binder free solvent
such as ethanol or methanol or IPA to prepare a 0.3% w/v of silver
nanowire dispersion.
[0181] On a PET substrate, a thin layer of SNW dispersion is spun
coated at 1500 rpm spin speed for 30 s. The coated substrate was
baked at 100 C for 1 minute. A layer of 1.8% wt silica sol-gel
solution was applied on top of baked sample by spin coating at 2500
rpm for 10 s. The resulted sample was further baked at 100 C for 1
minute.
[0182] The final sample comprises a PET substrate with a connected
silver nanowire network buried or embedded in closely packed silica
particles.
Examples of Patterning of Conductive Layers by Inkjet Printing
[0183] Prepare etching solution and place the solution into ink
containers of the inkjet printing cartridges. Adjust the inkjet
printer to appropriate values, select a desired pattern to be
printed and lay different patterns on top of each other if
necessary to achieve accurate patterns. FIG. 10 illustrates an
exemplary patterns, wherein the white lines represent where the
printing lines of the etchant. Appropriate heat is applied when
necessary.
[0184] FIG. 11 shows a SEM image where the second regions were all
etched away. FIG. 12 shows a SEM image wherein the second region is
oxidized instead of all etched way. Comparing FIG. 12 with FIG. 11,
FIG. 12 shows clearly that patterned film is more optically
uniform.
[0185] FIG. 13a is an SEM image showing the conductive film
comprising surface functionalize metal nanowires after being
patterned, wherein the area 102 is the first area, not being
etched, and area 106 is the second area, being etched. The first
area 102 is the conductive area and the second area 106 is the
non-conductive area. FIG. 13b is a zoom in image of part of FIG.
13a. FIG. 13b demonstrated that the non-conductive regions comprise
shorter metal nanowires, or less metal nanowires, or more isolated
nanowire clusters.
[0186] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
above discussion is for demonstration purpose; and the examples
discussed above are some of many possible examples. Other
variations are also applicable. Any reference in this specification
to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," etc.,
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least
one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in
various places in the specification are not necessarily all
referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection
with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview
of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or
characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.
Furthermore, for ease of understanding, certain method procedures
may have been delineated as separate procedures; however, these
separately delineated procedures should not be construed as
necessarily order dependent in their performance. That is, some
procedures may be able to be performed in an alternative ordering,
simultaneously, etc. In addition, exemplary diagrams illustrate
various methods in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. Such exemplary method embodiments are described herein
using and can be applied to corresponding apparatus embodiments,
however, the method embodiments are not intended to be limited
thereby. Although few embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments
without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.
The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all
respects illustrative rather than limiting on the invention
described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all
changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims, are intended to be embraced therein. As used in this
disclosure, the term "preferably" is non-exclusive and means
"preferably, but not limited to." Terms in the claims should be
given their broadest interpretation consistent with the general
inventive concept as set forth in this description. For example,
the terms "coupled" and "connect" (and derivations thereof) are
used to connote both direct and indirect connections/couplings. As
another example, "having" and "including", derivatives thereof and
similar transitional terms or phrases are used synonymously with
"comprising" (i.e., all are considered "open ended" terms)--only
the phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" should
be considered as "close ended". Claims are not intended to be
interpreted under 112 sixth paragraph unless the phrase "means for"
and an associated function appear in a claim and the claim fails to
recite sufficient structure to perform such function.
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