Abstract:
Optically transparent films can comprise a coating of nanodiamonds to introduce desirable properties, such as hardness, good thermal conductivity and an increased dielectric constant. In general, transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable property enhancing nanoparticles included in a transparent conductive layer and/or in a coating layer. Property enhancing nanoparticles can be formed from materials having a large hardness parameter, a large thermal conductivity and/or a large dielectric constant. Suitable polymers are incorporated as a binder in the layers with the property enhancing nanoparticles. The coatings with property enhancing nanoparticles can be solution coated and corresponding solutions are described.
Abstract:
Metal nanowires, such as silver nanowires coated on a substrate were sintered together to form fused metal nanowire networks that have greatly improved conductivity while maintaining good transparency and low haze. The method of forming such a fused metal nanowire networks are disclosed that involves exposure of metal nanowires to various fusing agents on a short timescale. The resulting sintered network can have a core-shell structure in which metal halide forms the shell. Additionally, effective methods are described for forming patterned structure with areas of sintered metal nanowire network with high conductivity and areas of un-sintered metal nanowires with low conductivity. The corresponding patterned films are also described. When formed into a film, materials comprising the metal nanowire network demonstrate low sheet resistance while maintaining desirably high levels of optical transparency with low haze, making them suitable for transparent electrode, touch sensors, and other electronic/optical device formation.
Abstract:
Metal salt based stabilizers are described that are effective to improve stability of sparse metal conductive films formed with metal nanowires, especially silver nanowires. Specifically, vanadium (+5) compositions can be effectively placed in coatings to provide desirable stabilization under accelerated wear testing conditions. Sparse metal conductive films can comprise fused metal nanostructured networks. Cobalt (+2) compounds can be incorporated as stabilization agents within nanowire inks to provide a high degree of stabilization without significantly interfering with the fusing process.
Abstract:
Hardcoat formulations are described that cure into interpenetrating crosslinked acrylate polymers and crosslinked epoxy polymers. The epoxy polymers can comprise polysiloxane moieties and/or aliphatic moieties. The acrylate polymers can comprise aliphatic moieties and/or urethane moieties. UV initiator compounds can be used to initiate the curing process upon exposure to UV light. The resulting hardcoat materials are found to exhibit desirable properties. The hardcoat material can be placed over sparse metal transparent conductive layers to provide protection to the conductive layers.
Abstract:
Nanoscale colorants are introduced to adjust the hue of transparent conductive films, such as to provide a whiter film. The transparent conductive films can have sparse metal conductive layers, which can be formed using silver nanowires. Color of the film can be evaluated using standard color parameters. In particular, values of color parameter b* can be reduced with the nanoscale colorants without unacceptably changing other parameters, such as haze, a* and transparency.
Abstract:
Fusing nanowire inks are described that can also comprise a hydrophilic polymer binder, such as a cellulose based binder. The fusing nanowire inks can be deposited onto a substrate surface and dried to drive the fusing process. Transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable properties.
Abstract:
Transparent conductive films comprising sparse metal conductive layers are processed after coating with an overcoat to lower the sheet resistance of the film. The sparse metal conductive layer can comprise a fused metal nanostructured network. A coating, such as a polymer overcoat or a polymer undercoat can noble metal ions that can further reduce the sheet resistance with the application of heat and optionally humidity. In particular, silver ions in a coating are demonstrated to provide important stabilization of sparse metal conductive layers, whether or not fused, upon the application of heat and humidity. A coating can further comprise a metal salt stabilization composition.
Abstract:
A formable transparent conductive film are described that comprise a sparse metal conductive layer, a thermoplastic polymer substrate supporting the sparse metal conductive layer, a viscoelastic polymer with a thickness from about 15 microns to about 150 microns over the sparse metal conductive layer. A layered film structure can be formed that is suitable for contouring on the surface of a three dimensional object without unacceptable increases in sheet resistance and with good optical transparency and low haze. The formable films can be placed into a frozen configuration bent 90 degrees with a radius of curvature of no more than about 5 centimeters while exhibiting a surface resistance of no more than about 500 ohms/sq. with a total transmittance with respect to visible light of at least about 80%.
Abstract:
Highly uniform and thin silver nanowires are described having average diameters below 20 nm and a small standard deviation of the diameters. The silver nanowires have a high aspect ratio. The silver nanowires can be characterized by a small number of nanowires having a diameter greater than 18 nm as well as with a blue shifted narrow absorption spectrum in a dilute solution. Methods are described to allow for the synthesis of the narrow uniform silver nanowires. Transparent conductive films formed from the thin, uniform silver nanowires can have very low levels of haze and low values of ΔL*, the diffusive luminosity, such that the transparent conductive films can provide little alteration of the appearance of a black background.
Abstract:
Desirable methods for larger scale silver nanoplate synthesis are described along with methods for applying a noble metal coating onto the silver nanoplates to form coated silver nanoplates with a desirable absorption spectrum. The silver nanoplates are suitable for use in coatings for altering the hue of a transparent film. The hue adjustment can be particularly desirable for transparent conductive films.