Large area controlled assembly of transparent conductive networks

• US 9,147,505 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Ivanov, Ilia N., Simpson, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruthkosky, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rummel, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/287,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20130108840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials B05D5/00, B05D7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/08 to obtain an anti-friction or anti-adhesive surface rendering particulate materials free-flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic B01J2/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/82 Transparent electrodes, e.g. indium tin oxide [ITO] electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/813 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A method of preparing a network comprises disposing a solution comprising particulate materials in a solvent onto a superhydrophobic surface comprising a plurality of superhydrophobic features and interfacial areas between the superhydrophobic features. The plurality of superhydrophobic features has a water contact angle of at least about 150°. The method of preparing the network also comprises removing the solvent from the solution of the particulate materials, and forming a network of the particulate materials in the interfacial areas, the particulate materials receding to the interfacial areas as the solvent is removed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of superhydrophobic features and interfacial areas between the superhydrophobic features, the plurality of superhydrophobic features having a water contact angle of at least about 150°

; and

a conductive network of particulate nanomaterials disposed on the interfacial areas and divided by the superhydrophobic features, the conductive network comprising a plurality of conductive lines of the particulate nanomaterials formed in a single individual interfacial area between two adjacent superhydrophobic features.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the network is transparent.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the particulate nanomaterials comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, zinc, titanium, and combinations thereof, or the respective oxide.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the particulate nanomaterials comprise nanotubes, nanowires, or nanorods.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the particulate nanomaterials have an aspect ratio of between about 1 and 2,500.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the particulate nanomaterials in the plurality of conductive lines are aligned in the single individual interfacial area.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive lines of the particulate nanomaterials formed in the single individual interfacial area between two adjacent superhydrophobic features are substantially parallel.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the particulate nanomaterials is sufficient to establish percolation for the conductive network of particulate nanomaterials.

9. A device comprising:

a drawn substrate, a plurality of superhydrophobic features and interfacial areas between the superhydrophobic features disposed on the drawn substrate; and

a conductive network of particulate nanomaterials disposed on the interfacial areas and divided by the superhydrophobic features, the conductive network comprising a plurality of aligned conductive lines of the particulate nanomaterials formed in a single individual interfacial area between two adjacent superhydrophobic features.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the network is transparent.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the particulate nanomaterials comprise nanotubes, nanowires, or nanorods.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the particulate nanomaterials have an aspect ratio of less than 50.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of aligned conductive lines of the particulate nanomaterials formed in the single individual interfacial area between two adjacent superhydrophobic features are substantially parallel.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the concentration of the particulate nanomaterials is sufficient to establish percolation for the conductive network of particulate nanomaterials.