Magnetic nanostructures for tco replacement

Abstract

This invention provides an optically transparent electrically conductive layer with a desirable combination of low electrical sheet resistance and good optical transparency. The conductive layer comprises a multiplicity of magnetic nanostructures in a plane, aligned into a plurality of roughly parallel continuous conductive pathways, wherein the density of the magnetic nanostructures allows for substantial optical transparency of the conductive layer. The magnetic nanostructures may be nanoparticles, nanowires or compound nanowires. A compound magnetic nanowire may comprise a silver nanowire covered by a layer of magnetic metal such as nickel or cobalt. Furthermore, a compound magnetic nanowire may comprise a carbon nanotube (CNT) attached to a magnetic metal nanowire. A method of forming the conductive layer on a substrate includes: depositing a multiplicity of magnetic nanostructures on the substrate and applying a magnetic field to form the nanostructures into a plurality of conductive pathways parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to transparent conductive films, and more particularly to transparent conductive films comprising magnetic nanostructures such as nanowires and nanoparticles. Background technique [0002] Optically transparent conductive layers can be used in a variety of applications where a transparent conductor is required, or can provide advantages. Applications using transparent conductors include: liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, organic light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and more. Transparent conductive oxides (TCO) such as ITO and ZnO are the most commonly used transparent conductive materials. However, TCO films have a trade-off between conductivity and optical transparency—when the carrier concentration is increased to enhance conductivity, optical transparency decreases, and vice versa. Furthermore, when the thickness of the TCO film is increased to increase the sheet resistance, the optical transparency d...

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Problems solved by technology

as in figure 2 As seen in , the current path through the thin film 210 is rather convoluted, and the silver nanowires 220 cannot be effectively used

Furthermore, because the silver nanowires 220 are not effectively used to provide electrical conductivity to the film 210, the film 210 has less optimal optical transparency, clearly, the combination of electrical conductivity and optical transparency obtained from films comprising nanowires has not yet been achieved. fully optimized

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