Improvement of conductivity of Ag nanowires-networked film using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU)

This study proposes a chemical treatment using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU), a well-known catalyst and non-nucleophilic base, to improve the conductivity of Ag nanowires (NWs)-networked transparent conductive films by removing the surface oxide of the wires. Upon DBU treatment, the sheet resistance of the films drops immediately and significantly, confirming its effectiveness for surface oxide reduction. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses disclose that the wires do not show any sign of damage even after 1 h-long exposure, an important benefit over other chemicals such as ammonia. We apply the method to excessively-oxidized Ag NWs via O2 plasma and Cu NWs to further investigate the effectiveness of the method, confirming that the DBU treatment is an effective route to remove the surface oxide.