Structural manipulation of silver nanowire transparent conductive films for optoelectrical property optimization in different application fields

Silver nanowire films as a kind of bright flexible transparent conductive material are expected to have the sheet resistance as low as possible, the critically high optical transmittance and the wide range haze for different applications. Herein, we fabricated a series of silver nanowire transparent conductive films with different structural parameters and sheet resistances. By analyzing the relationship between the structural parameters and optical properties, it was found that the long and thick nanowires led to high transmittance and haze, while long and thin nanowires resulted in high transmittance and low haze. Experimental and theoretical results give instructions of designing silver nanowire films from structural manipulation for various applications in need of high haze, low haze with high transmittance or low haze with high conductivity. Through modification of the diameter, length and density of the silver nanowires, the transparent conductive films with sheet resistance below 75 ohm/square and transmittance above 80% were achieved, while haze at the wavelength of 550 nm could be controlled between 1% and 25%. This work provides insight for practical application of silver nanowires in optoelectronic devices.