Low Cost and Facile Fabrication of a Micro‐Mold with High Aspect Ratio for Transparent Electrodes with Metal Mesh Using Micro‐Scale 3D Printing

Abstract

Transparent electrodes (TEs) with metal mesh are regarded as a substitute for traditional indium tin oxide (ITO) due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. The manufacture of metal mesh based on micro‐molds will be a low‐cost and high‐efficiency method, but the cost‐effective fabrication of micro‐molds with a high aspect ratio (AR) currently faces challenges. Here, a polymer micro‐mold with high AR based on an electric‐field‐driven (EFD) micro‐scale 3D printing and molding process is proposed for the mass production of TEs with metal meshes. The final fabricated flexible transparent electrode (FTE) based on polymer micro‐mold with high AR exhibits superior optoelectronic properties with a figure of merit (FOM) of 1800, as well as excellent mechanical stability with a slight increase in the sheet resistance (Rs) during cyclic bending, scratching, torsion, and adhesion tests. Furthermore, the fabricated rigid TE based on polymer micro‐mold shows remarkable performance and stability with a FOM of 2500, a negligible increase in the Rs under harsh working conditions, and a robust heating cycle. Whether used for the manufacture of FTEs or rigid TEs, the polymer micro‐mold shows good service life. This strategy provides support for the efficient and environmentally friendly mass production of high‐performance TEs.