4.2: Synchronously micro‐patterning and nano‐welding silver nanowires for high‐performance transparent electrodes

Transparent electrodes (TEs) are the core and key of flexible electronic devices. Silver nanowires (AgNW) networks are the predominant flexible TEs due to their low cost, high performance, and flexibility. However, additional treatments are generally required to lower the high contact resistance between AgNWs and to achieve patterning of AgNW network for practical applications. Here, we use diphenyliodonium nitrate (DPIN) as an AgNW modifier to allow plasmonic welding and patterning transfer of the nanowire network with assistance of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). AgNW patterns with high resolution down to 3 μm are then obtained via Plateau‐Rayleigh instability and ultrasonication in water without involving photoresist and etching.