Surface-functionalized silver nanowires on chitosan biopolymers for highly robust and stretchable transparent conducting films

Abstract

We develop highly robust and stretchable conductive transparent electrodes based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) deposited on functionalized chitosan biopolymer substrates. 11-aminounde-canoic acid is introduced as a surface modifier for enhancing the chemical bond. The chemically functionalized AgNW films achieve a low sheet resistance of 12.2 ohm/sq with a high transmittance of 88.9%. In addition, stretchable alternating current-driven electroluminescent devices and stretchable transparent heaters have been fabricated with AgNW/chitosan thin-films which can be cut, stretched, bent, and twisted without performance degradation. With this approach, stretchable electronics prepared on bio-compatible substrates can be easily applied to curved surfaces or human skins. IMPACT STATEMENT: We demonstrate highly robust and stretchable transparent conductive electrodes based on the AgNWs/chitosan biopolymer with the organic surface modifier. The films can realize future biocompatible wearable electronics on the human body.