Polymer-metal-polymer (PMP) multilayer transparent electrode for organic optoelectronics

Publication date: 15 October 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 156
Author(s): Vikas Sharma, Himanshu Sharma, Rishi Vyas, Kanupriya Sachdev
Metal embedded polymer hybrid materials have found a niche of applications in energy and display domain. Herein, we report results of investigations on Polystyrene-Silver-Polystyrene (PAP) multilayer structure (<100 nm) exhibiting promising electrical and optical properties useful for the organic transparent electrode. Polystyrene and silver layers were obtained by spin coating and DC sputtering, respectively. Ag layer thickness was varied (4 nm to 30 nm) to optimize optical and electronic properties. Highest average transparency towards visible light was measured ≥70% for 8 nm thick Ag layered PAP structure whereas a minimum value of resistivity 6.03E−5 Ω was obtained for 12 nm thick Ag layer which implies the formation of the uniform continuous layer at this thickness. The study is supplemented with the characterization to prove smooth top layer which is required for growth of secondary layers (FESEM), chemical state of the trilayer (XPS measurement), uniformity in the chemical composition of the trilayer (Depth profiling) and structural properties (X-Ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy). The importance of the present investigation lies in the synthesis process which is easy, low cost and allows tuning of optoelectronic properties of TCE as required by the application.

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