Solution-Processed Flexible Transparent Electrodes for Printable Electronics

Flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) have been widely witnessed in various printable electronic devices, especially those involving light. So far, solution processes have demonstrated increasing advantages in preparing FTEs not only in their mild operation conditions and high-throughput but also in the diversity in micropatterning conductive nanomaterials into networks. For the FTEs, both high transparency and high conductivity are desirable, which therefore create requirements for the conductive network by considering the trade-off relationship between the coverage and the micropatterns of the network. In addition, the conductive networks also affect the flexibility of FTEs due to the deformation during bending/stretching. Consequently, solution processes capable of micropatterning conductive nanomaterials including nanoparticles, nanowires/polymers, and graphene/MXene play a crucial role in determining the performance of FTEs. Here, we reviewed recent research progress on solution-processed FTEs, including the solution processes, the solution-processable conductive nanomaterials and the substrates for making FTEs, and applications of FTEs in flexible electronics. Finally, we proposed several perspective outlooks of the FTEs, which aim at not only the enhanced performance but also the performances in extreme conditions and in integration. We believe that the review would offer inspiration for developing functional FTEs.