SrVO3-modified silver nanowire transparent conductive films with enhanced photoelectric performance and optical stability

Abstract

Silver nanowire transparent conductive films (AgNW TCFs), valued for their optoelectronic properties and flexibility, face challenges in outdoor, automotive, and UV-exposed environments owing to silver oxidation and migration. Modifications to the over-coating layer (OCL) have been explored to enhance the performance of TCFs, but achieving long-term stability remains difficult. Strontium vanadate (SrVO₃, SVO) exhibits excellent conductivity, offers a wide transparency window in the near UV region, and possesses strong anti-oxidation and UV resistance properties. In this study, SVO nanofibers are employed as modification reagents for the OCL to encapsulate the AgNW network conductive layer (ANCL). Results reveal that the incorporation of 0.010 wt% of high-conductivity, high-UV-transparency SVO nanofibers into the OCL leads to notable enhancements: a 7.40% reduction in sheet resistance (R_s), 4.85% decrease in haze (H), and virtually no change in light transmittance at 550 nm (T_vis). Significantly, this structure demonstrates optical stability for more than 500 hours, far outperforming both commercial and unmodified samples. Following prolonged UV exposure, the R_s of the SrVO₃-modified silver nanowire transparent conductive film (AgNW/SVO TCF) increases by only 48.10% to 46.17 Ω sq⁻¹, with only minor reductions of −1.76% and −1.17% in T_vis and H, respectively. In stark contrast, the R_s values of the unmodified and commercial AgNW TCF increase dramatically by 235.30% to 112.33 Ω sq⁻¹ and 616.7% to 258.00 Ω sq⁻¹, respectively. The AgNW/SVO TCF demonstrates superior optical stability. This method is fully compatible with established processes for preparing AgNW TCFs and offers promising opportunities and innovative approaches to enhance the optoelectronic performance and optical stability of AgNW TCFs. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for engineering AgNW TCFs specifically for outdoor applications.