Light-Transmitting Conductor with Nanostructure Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light-transmitting conductors face challenges in achieving high light transmission and conductivity simultaneously, with metal oxides reducing light transmission as conductivity increases, and nanostructure-based conductors having low conductivity due to individual nanostructure connections.
Innovation Solution
A light-transmitting conductor with a conduction layer formed by intersecting nanostructures, including nanotubes, nanowires, or nano-fibers, which creates a network pattern with controlled thickness and geometry to enhance both light transmission and conductivity, and a terminal layer connected to the conduction layer for improved electrical connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal oxides are used to increase conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but light transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor is divided into a metal mesh structure with segmented conductive lines rather than continuous metal oxide layers. This segmentation allows light to pass through the gaps between lines while maintaining conductivity through the metal material, resolving the trade-off between light transmission and conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining metal materials (for conductivity) with transparent substrate materials. The metal mesh is formed on a transparent substrate, creating a composite that achieves both high conductivity from the metal and high light transmission from the transparent substrate and mesh structure
2Reliability
If metal mesh structures are used to improve conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and moiré phenomenon occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming metal patterns directly through complex photolithography processes, the invention inverts the approach by using a self-organizing mechanism where metal nanoparticles or nanowires spontaneously form conductive networks. This self-assembly process simplifies manufacturing while achieving the desired conductive mesh structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the scale parameter to the nanometer level, using metal nanoparticles or nanowires instead of conventional micrometer-scale metal lines. This nanoscale dimension allows the mesh structure to become effectively transparent to visible light while maintaining conductivity, and the self-organizing nature at this scale simplifies the manufacturing process
3Illumination intensity
If individual nanostructures are used to improve light transmission, then light transmission is improved, but conductivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple individual nanostructures (metal nanoparticles, nanowires, or carbon nanotubes) into a interconnected network or mesh structure. By combining these nanostructures into a continuous or semi-continuous network, the invention achieves both high light transmission (due to the nanoscale dimensions and open structure) and improved conductivity (through the interconnected pathways for electron transport)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a light-transmitting conductor comprising: a substrate; and a conduction layer on the substrate, wherein the conduction layer comprises a conductive material, and the conduction layer has a pattern corresponding to a network formed such that nanostructures are arranged to intersect with each other that includes a substrate and a conduction layer on the substrate.