Silver Nanowire Protection Layer Layout to Reduce Yellowing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional silver nanowire (SNW) protection layers yellow significantly due to light-resistant antioxidants absorbing blue and violet light, and they cover the entire substrate, leading to poor conductivity issues.

Innovation Solution

A novel SNW protection layer structure where the protection layer covers only the regions corresponding to SNW channels on a substrate, using a light-resistant antioxidant and with adjustable dimensions, including corrugated channels and dummies to prevent yellowing and maintain conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a SNW protection layer covers the entire substrate region, then the SNW layer is fully protected from light oxidation, but significant yellowing occurs due to light-resistant antioxidants absorbing blue and violet light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidyellowing phenomenon

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protection layer is segmented to cover only specific regions where SNW channels are located, rather than covering the entire substrate. This selective coverage maintains protection effectiveness for the conductive pathways while minimizing the total amount of light-resistant antioxidant material, thereby reducing the yellowing phenomenon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer is applied with different spatial distribution - concentrated in regions corresponding to SNW channels and absent or reduced in other areas. This local quality approach ensures adequate protection where conductivity is needed while minimizing harmful optical effects in non-conductive regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a SNW protection layer covers the entire substrate, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but optical performance deteriorates due to excessive antioxidant material absorbing light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidoptical performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection layer is divided into discrete regions corresponding to SNW channel locations, separating the protected areas from non-protected areas. This segmentation reduces the total light-absorbing material while maintaining protection where conductive pathways exist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying protection uniformly across the entire substrate (excessive action), the protection is applied partially only where SNW channels are present. This partial action eliminates unnecessary light absorption in non-conductive regions while sufficient protection is maintained in conductive regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If light-resistant antioxidants are used in the SNW protection layer, then oxidation resistance is improved, but blue and violet light absorption increases causing yellowing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation resistanceVSAvoidlight absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light-resistant antioxidant material is segmented and confined to specific regions corresponding to SNW channels, reducing the total volume of light-absorbing material while maintaining oxidation protection where it is most needed for electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer exhibits local quality by concentrating light-resistant antioxidants in regions where SNW channels provide electrical pathways, while minimizing or eliminating antioxidants in non-conductive regions. This creates a spatial variation in material composition that balances protection needs with optical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively reduces yellowing and maintains conductivity by limiting the protection layer's coverage to SNW channels, enhancing the optical performance of touch sensors.

Implementation Method 1

protect a SNW layer, such that the SNW layer does not become ineffective because of light oxidation that may cause poor conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight oxidation: Photo-oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a light-resistant antioxidant in the components of a SNW protection layer of a conventional SNW protection layer structure absorbs blue light and violet light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20220197415A1Silver nanowire protection layer structure and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2022.06.23 CAMBRIOS FILM SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

A silver nanowire (SNW) protection layer structure includes a substrate; a SNW layer, disposed on the substrate and covering only a partial region of a surface of the substrate, the SNW layer including a plurality of SNW channels; and a SNW protection layer, disposed on the SNW layer and covering a region corresponding to the plurality of SNW channels, the SNW protection layer including a light-resistant antioxidant. A manufacturing method for the SNW protection layer structure above is further provided. The SNW protection layer structure and the manufacturing method thereof are applicable in a touch sensor.