Enhancing heating performance and temperature uniformity of Cu/Ag mesh transparent heaters by a composite reduced graphene oxide layer

• RGO layer composite Cu/Ag metal mesh transparent heater (TH) was prepared. • The RGO/mesh composite structure showed a sheet resistance as low as 1.45 Ω/sq. • A temperature of 150 ℃ was achieved by applying a voltage of 1.8 V to the TH. • It exhibited excellent heating performance and temperature uniformity. A novel transparent heater (TH) composed of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/metal mesh with enhanced heating performance and temperature uniformity, was prepared by thermal reduction in a tube furnace. The synergistic effect between the RGO layer and Cu/Ag mesh effectively improved the electrical properties of the RGO/mesh composite structure. Consequently, the TH demonstrated an efficient electrothermal performance (stable response temperature of 150 °C at 1.8 V) and more uniform surface temperature distribution. This work contributes to the development of composite TH devices for practical applications.