Transparent conducting films based on graphene oxide/silver nanowire hybrids with high flexibility

Transparent conducting films (TCFs) with high flexibility were successfully prepared by using graphene oxide (GO) and silver nanowire (Ag NW) hybrids. Forty-nanometerthick GO layers were coated on three different substrates, polyethylene terephthalate, glass and quartz, by capillary flow as a driving force during solvent evaporation of GO dispersions. Ag NW networks were formed on the GO layers by electrostatic force by dip coating. Melting and fusion of the Ag NWs after thermal annealing dramatically increased their contacts to the GO layers, resulting in mechanically stable and flexible TCFs with a transmittance of 86% and a sheet resistance of 150 Ω/□, which is comparable to indium tin oxide.

► Graphene oxide layers with 40 nm thick were coated on substrates by capillary flow.
► Ag nanowire networks were formed on the top of graphene oxide layers by dip coating.
► Fusion of nanowires by annealing enhanced their contacts to the GO layers.
► We successfully fabricated stable and flexible transparent conducting films.
► A transmittance of 86% and a sheet resistance of 150 Ω/□ were prepared.