Patterned Silver Nanowire Networks in UV-Curable Polymers for Flexible Blue Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diode Electrodes

Abstract

In this study, the patterned silver nanowire network (PSNN) with low surface roughness embedded in the surface of UV-curable polymer (NOA63) was demonstrated. To overcome the inherent limitations of silver nanowires for use in flexible electrodes, several effective strategies were sequentially implemented. First, UV-ozone treatment was applied to the glass/PMMA substrate to selectively create hydrophilic regions for precise electrode patterning. Second, to reduce wire-to-wire junction resistance without compromising electrode transparency, a simple capillary-force-induced cold-welding process was employed. Finally, electrode planarization was achieved by peeling the NOA63/PSNN film from the glass substrate. Specifically, the nanowire network in NOA63 exhibited a sheet resistance of 28 ± 6 Ω/sq and an exceptional transparency of 86.6% at 474 nm, outperforming commercially available ITO on PET substrates (37 Ω/sq, 82.3%). Furthermore, the NOA63/PSNN substrate demonstrated excellent adhesion strength, air stability, and bending durability. Finally, blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) fabricated on the NOA63/PSNN substrates showed a low turn-on voltage of 3.2 V, a maximum luminance of 7733 cd/m², and a maximum current efficiency of 4.5 cd/A, indicating that our flexible NOA63/PSNN substrate strategy is highly promising and cost-effective for blue-light-based optoelectronic applications.