Preparation of transparent conducting films with improved haze characteristics using single-wall carbon nanotube-silver nanowire hybrid material

• Preparation of single-wall carbon nanotube-silver nanowire hybrid solution.
• Preparation of the hybrid transparent conducting film (TCF) on flexible film.
• Achieving the improved haze characteristic of TCF from the hybrid film.

Transparent conducting films (TCFs) were fabricated using single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)–silver nanowire (AgNW) hybrid materials on flexible substrates. The hybrid solution was prepared with various weight ratios of SWCNTs and AgNWs, followed by bar-coating on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. As the SWCNT content increased, the haze of the film decreased markedly, while transparency and sheet resistance were a little bit impaired. As a result, the prepared hybrid TCFs exhibited a sheet resistance of 120 Ω/sq and a transparency of 90.8%, with a haze of as low as 1.6% when the weight ratio of SWCNTs to AgNWs was 2:3. These properties appear suitable for the application of TCFs in high-performance, flexible capacitive touch panels.