ITO-Coated Silver Nanowire Touch Sensor Stacking Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch sensors with nonconductive resin protective layers face issues of high contact impedance and poor electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention due to the nonconductive nature of the resin, which affects the efficiency of silver nanowire etching and optical properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer on silver nanowires within the stacking structure, allowing for a thicker silver nanowire layer with controlled sheet resistance and improved etchant selectivity, thereby reducing contact impedance and enhancing ESD prevention without compromising optical conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a nonconductive resin protective layer is used to protect silver nanowires, then the silver nanowires are protected from scratches and peeling, but contact impedance increases and electrostatic discharge prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the protective layer from nonconductive resin to conductive ITO (indium tin oxide). This material substitution fundamentally alters the electrical properties, enabling the protective layer to provide both mechanical protection and electrostatic discharge prevention while maintaining adhesion to silver nanowires.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where ITO is deposited on silver nanowires to form a core-shell configuration. This composite material approach combines the mechanical protection benefits of a protective layer with the electrical conductivity of ITO, resolving the contradiction between protection and conductivity.
2Strength
If a nonconductive resin protective layer is used, then silver nanowires are protected, but contact impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the protective layer by substituting nonconductive resin with conductive ITO material. This parameter change directly reduces contact impedance while maintaining the protective function, as ITO provides both mechanical protection and electrical conductivity.
3Strength
If a protective layer is formed to be permanently attached to silver nanowires, then adhesion is enhanced, but etching selectivity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from resin-based protective layer to ITO protective layer. This material substitution improves etching selectivity because ITO exhibits different etching characteristics compared to resin, allowing for more controlled and selective etching processes while maintaining permanent attachment to silver nanowires.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in reduced contact impedance, improved ESD prevention, and enhanced reliability analysis tolerance while maintaining the optical properties of the touch sensor, with the ITO layer enabling effective etching and conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
an indium tin oxide (ITO) covered on the plurality of silver nanowires
Data Source
AI summary
A stacking structure includes a substrate, a silver nanowire layer provided on a top of the substrate, and a metal layer provided on a top of the silver nanowire layer. The silver nanowire layer includes a plurality of silver nanowires and an indium tin oxide (ITO) covered on the plurality of silver nanowires. The silver nanowire layer has an overall thickness that is 2.35 to 24 times as thick as a thickness of the ITO. A touch sensor including the above described stacking structure is also disclosed.