Transparent Electrode Using Conductive Fiber Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transparent electrodes face challenges in achieving high conductivity, transparency, and surface smoothness while also being flexible and cost-effective, particularly for applications like liquid crystal displays and organic light emitting elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating conductive fibers such as metal nanowires and carbon nanotubes into a transparent conductive layer formed on a mold release surface, which is then transferred onto a transparent base material, creating a dense network structure that enhances conductivity and maintains high transparency and smoothness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum deposition method or sputtering method is used to form ITO film, then high conductivity and transparency are achieved, but productivity is low and production cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum deposition method and sputtering method (mechanical/physical processes) with a solution coating method followed by low-temperature sintering. This substitution enables high-productivity continuous production while achieving comparable conductivity and transparency through the combination of metal oxide particles and binder resin, eliminating the need for expensive vacuum equipment and high-vacuum processes.
2Reliability
If vacuum deposition method or sputtering method is used to form ITO film, then high conductivity and transparency are achieved, but flexibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible plastic film as the base material and forms a thin layer of metal oxide particles mixed with binder resin on it. This thin-film structure conformally coats the flexible substrate, maintaining the substrate's flexibility while providing the required conductivity and transparency. The solution-coated layer is inherently more flexible than thick ITO films deposited by vacuum methods.
3Productivity
If metal oxide particles are coated to form transparent electrode, then productivity is improved, but sufficient conductivity cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where metal oxide particles (such as zinc oxide, tin oxide, or indium oxide) are mixed with binder resin in a specific ratio. The metal oxide particles provide conductivity pathways while the binder resin forms a continuous matrix that connects the particles and ensures transparency. This composite approach achieves sufficient conductivity through percolation pathways of metal oxide particles while maintaining the productivity benefits of solution coating and low-temperature processing.
4Productivity
If conductive polymer material is coated to form transparent electrode, then productivity is improved, but conductivity and transparency are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite system where inorganic metal oxide particles provide the primary conductivity pathways through their inherent semiconducting properties, while the organic binder resin provides structural continuity and transparency. This inorganic-organic composite approach overcomes the limitations of pure conductive polymers by combining the high conductivity potential of metal oxides with the flexibility and processability of polymer matrices, achieving both high productivity and reliable electrical/optical properties.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are: a transparent electrode with excellent optical transparency, electrical conductivity, and surface smoothness and is capable of providing lightness in weight and flexibility, comprising a transparent conductive layer on a transparent substrate, wherein the transparent conductive layer contains a conductive fiber and a transparent conductive material, the surface of the transparent conductive layer is composed of the conductive fiber and the transparent conductive material, and the smoothness (Ry) of the surface of the transparent conductive layer is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm; and a production method of same, and the present invention may provide a light emitting element with excellent uniformity of light emission.