Size-Optimized Silver Nanowires with Graphene Oxide for High-Performance Transparent Electrodes

Silver nanowires (AgNWs)-based transparent electrode is one critical component for many modern electronic devices, however, preparation of high-performance AgNWs-based transparent electrode with appealing light transmittance and long-term stability is still challenging. Herein, by combining the size-optimized AgNWs with graphene oxide (GO), the composite AgNWs/GO film electrode with high light-transmittance and appealing stability is prepared. For the size-controlled preparation of AgNWs, well-defined one-dimensional structure (average diameter = 62 nm) is obtained by elaborately adjusting the Br- concentration (0.05 mM), Cl- concentration (1 mM), ratio of PVP/AgNO3 (5:1) and PVP-type selection (PVP1300k: PVP58k = 2:1), contributing to a high light transmittance of 84% for the corresponding AgNWs-based electrode. After further introducing the GO, the film electrode presents much enhanced stability and increased film-substrate adhesive strength, namely only 3.6% increase in resistance after 1000 cycles of bending and being stable even under ultrasonic vibration. The results can provide new insights for designing electrode with ultrastability and high light transmittance. The well-tuned parameters contribute to size-optimized AgNWs.The AgNWs/GO composite thin film electrode with high transmittance and good stability was prepared.The hydroxyl group on GO enhances the adhesion between AgNWs/GO and PET.