AgNWs networks for high-performing transparent heaters by using NiO window layer

- High-performing transparent heater was formed by AgNWs and NiO layer.
- NiO layer efficiently protected AgNWs from deformation.
- NiO functional window effectively controlled the electrical and thermal properties.
- 200 °C was reached by applying 7 V for stable operation.

We demonstrate the high-performing silver nanowire (AgNW) networks for transparent heaters by using a NiO window layer. The colorless polyimide (cPI) was used as a substrate in order to configure the transparent heater of NiO/AgNWs/cPI, having over 77% transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm. AgNWs networks were formed on the cPI substrate and the NiO layer was reactively sputtered onto AgNWs at a room temperature. Due to the NiO capping layer onto AgNWs, the electrical and optical properties of AgNW networks were preserved. An extremely high-performing AgNWs-based transparent heater was achieved by utilizing NiO protective. The NiO window layer provides an excellent atmospheric isolation for partially-embedded silver nanowires and makes the heater operation to be stable at high temperatures of 185.5 °C with a relatively small bias of 7 V. The excellent performances are attributed to the Schottky barrier formed between the NiO window and AgNW networks. The efficient exploitation of capping layers, such as NiO in this study will boost the viability of AgNW-based heaters and electronic devices for commercial applications.