Adhesive SiO2 Layer-Protected Premium Transparent AgNWs Deposited on Flexible Substrates

Flexible, highly conductive, and transparent silver nanowires (AgNWs) have emerged as vital materials for advanced applications in photovoltaics, touch screens, and optoelectronics. However, their practical deployment has been hindered by issues such as poor adhesion to diverse substrates (e.g., glass and plastic) and susceptibility to ambient oxidation. In this study, we present a novel approach to overcome these challenges through the synthesis and performance evaluation of transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) composed of AgNWs with an adhesive SiO2 protective layer deposited on glass, paper, and plastic substrates. Using a combination of polyol synthesis, RF sputtering, and spray coating techniques, we achieved robust and stable TCEs. The SiO2 coating not only significantly improved resistance to oxidation but also enhanced adhesion, mechanical stability, and durability. SiO2/AgNWs/Glass and SiO2/AgNWs/Plastic electrodes demonstrated high transmittance values of 83.36% and 69.67% at 550 nm, along with low sheet resistance of 48.5 Ω sq-1 and 50.2 Ω sq-1, respectively. This work highlights the ability of the adhesive SiO2 layer to preserve optical and electrical properties while enhancing the substrate adherence and protection against degradation.