Advancements in stretchable organic optoelectronic devices and flexible transparent conducting electrodes: Current progress and future prospects

The rapid evolution of flexible optoelectronic devices in consumer markets, such as solar cells, photonic skins, displays, lighting, supercapacitors, and smart windows, has spurred global innovation in the design and development of Stretchable Transparent Conducting Electrode (STCE) materials. These materials, which combine the flexibility of organic materials with the functionality of optoelectronic components, have drawn a lot of attention because of their potential uses in a variety of disciplines, such as medical equipment, wearable electronics, and soft robotics. Recent advancements in material science and device design have significantly improving performance, durability, and functionality of these stretchable organic optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, flexible conducting transparent electrodes play an essential role in a wide range of flexible and transparent electronics, including touch screens, displays, and solar cells. Traditional materials like indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, while effective, and constrained by their fragility and high cost. Recent innovations in alternative materials, such as metal mesh, nanowires, conducting polymers and graphene have ushered in a new era of affordable, flexible, and transparent conductive electrodes. Materials like graphene, metal nanowires, metallic grids, metal meshes, and dielectric-metal-dielectric electrodes are explored as potential substitutes for fragile ITO electrodes, thanks to their excellent combination of mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. This abstract delves into the opportunities and challenges in the development of flexible and transparent organic optoelectronic devices and flexible conducting transparent electrodes. In this review, we explain the technological advancements of transparent and stretchable electrodes, as well as their applications in organic optoelectronic devices such as organic and perovskite solar cells, OLED, heaters, and supercapacitors. We will specifically examine the basic characteristics, optoelectronic properties, and manufacturing procedures of transparent conducting electrodes. We also discuss the key criteria for evaluating proposals for new research lines in this burgeoning sector.