Using self-assembly to prepare a graphene-silver nanowire hybrid film that is transparent and electrically conductive

Silver nanowires (AgNWs), modified by cysteamine, with a high electrical conductivity can be combined with high surface area graphene nanosheets (GNs) to form AgNW–GN hybrid nanomaterials. These materials with –NH3+ functional groups in an alkaline environment can be deposited on waterborne polyurethane surfaces with the attraction of sulfonate functional groups to prepare transparent conductive films with high transmittance and low surface electrical resistance. This self-assembly method provides highly controllable transmittance and surface electrical resistance. The AgNWs can inhibit GNs from restacking and aggregation after reduction from graphene oxide, increasing the electrical conductivity between the GN interlayers. The AgNW–GN hybrid nanomaterial films show a sheet resistance of 86 Ω/sq with 80% light transmittance, and the value of DC conductivity to optical conductivity ratio reaches 19.81.