Invisible Patterned Silver-Based Transparent Electrodes via Control of Light Scattering and Absorption

Abstract

The demand for transparent flexible electrodes (TFEs) with superior simultaneous optical, electrical, and mechanical performance beyond indium tin oxide (ITO) has driven the development of various nanostructured architectures. Metal-based patterned surfaces have become strong contenders in the TFEs field due to their significantly higher mechanical flexibility; however, their current use is, in part, limited by their scattering-induced visibility to the naked eye. Herein, we report polymeric web-assisted two-dimensional nanostructures, fabricated via electrospinning and integrated with gas-phase deposition methods such as magnetron sputtering, yielding thin film nanopatterning with ultra-high luminous transmittance (Tlum) of 98.1% and sheet resistance (Rs) of 17 Ω □–1. The addition of an antireflective coating enhances the Tlum to 99.7%. The designed trilayer, highly absorbing Fabry–Perot stack (Ag/ITO/NiCr) sputtered on patterned nanolines (NLs) leads to backward scattering suppression, rendering them significantly less visible than the “uncloaked” Ag-only NLs. Our findings are confirmed by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. These high-performing, near-invisible electrodes allow for adjustable conductivity through thickness control without compromising transparency, while maintaining mechanical robustness under bending. They are also compatible with polymeric substrates, requiring only room-temperature polymer template dissolution, eliminating the need for high-temperature annealing and representing a promising route toward next-generation optoelectronic applications, including displays, photovoltaics, and wearable electronics.