Flexible Conductive Substrate with Fracture-Resistant Nanowire Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive metal oxide electrodes, such as ITO, have high Young's modulus and poor flexibility, leading to fractures and reduced electrical connectivity during bending, which affects the quality and flexibility of flexible conductive substrates.
Innovation Solution
A conductive substrate with a base substrate and two conductive layers, where the first conductive layer is electrically connected to separated parts after the second conductive layer fractures, and includes a composite material layer or nanowire conductive network layer, enhancing flexibility and conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive metal oxide (ITO) is used as the conductive layer, then transparency and conductivity are improved, but flexibility and fracture resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive substrate is divided into multiple conductive layers (first conductive layer and second conductive layer) with different material compositions and functions. The first conductive layer uses flexible materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, conductive polymers) while the second uses transparent conductive metal oxides (ITO, IZO, IGZO), allowing each layer to specialize in either flexibility or conductivity/transparency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures where flexible conductive materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, conductive polymers) are combined with transparent conductive metal oxides in a multi-layer configuration. This composite approach allows the substrate to simultaneously achieve flexibility from the organic materials and transparency/conductivity from the inorganic oxide layers
2Device complexity
If a single conductive layer is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability upon fracture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first conductive layer is positioned and designed to provide backup electrical connectivity before the second conductive layer fractures. When the second layer (ITO-based) does fracture during bending, the first layer (flexible conductive material) already exists to immediately compensate and maintain electrical connection, preventing device failure
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the conductive substrate have different material compositions optimized for different functions. The first conductive layer uses materials optimized for flexibility and fracture resistance, while the second conductive layer uses materials optimized for transparency and conductivity, allowing each local region to perform its specialized function
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a conductive substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The conductive substrate includes a base substrate and a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer disposed on the base substrate, wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer contact with each other, the first conductive layer is configured to be electrically connected with separated parts after the second conductive layer is fractured, and the first conductive layer includes a composite material layer or a nanowire conductive network layer.