Extensive Properties Investigation of AgNWs‐PEDOT:PSS Based Transparent Conductive Electrode for Ultraflexible Organic Photodetector Applications

Abstract

Abstract In this work, the optoelectrical, mechanical, and material properties of silver nanowires/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (AgNWs‐PEDOT:PSS) hybrid electrode, solution processed on 5 µm parylene‐C substrate for ultraflexible organic photodetector (OPD) applications, are investigated. The fabricated transparent conductive hybrid electrode exhibits low sheet resistance (Rs) of 27 Ω Sq.−1 and shows an average optical transmission of 90% in the visible spectrum. Besides the comparable work function (WF) of 5 eV when compared with the standard indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, the surface root mean square (RMS) roughness of the hybrid electrode is effectively reduced from 8 nm to 4 nm by spin coating a planarization layer of PEDOT:PSS. With a stable value in the relative change in resistance over continuous 50 k bending cycles at a curvature radius of 0.1 mm, the hybrid electrode exhibits excellent mechanical characteristics. Finally, using this hybrid electrode it is shown that an ultraflexible OPD fabricated in ambient atmospheric conditions demonstrates current density to voltage (J–V) characteristics comparable with standard ITO‐based OPD. Further, the ultraflexible OPD can withstand more than 5 k continuous bending cycles with similar J–V characteristics before and after bending.

Keywords

• in situ mechanical characterization
• organic photodetectors
• transparent AgNW‐PEDOT:PSS conductive electrodes
• ultraflexible devices