Polymer-Nanowire Hybrid Composites Based on PEDOT: PSS and AgNWs for High-Performance Conductive Films in Flexible Devices

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 05 | Page : 236 250
    By

    R. Muthukumar,

  • S. M. Prakash,

  • Nantha Kumar P,

  • Dinesh V,

  • Radhey Shyam Meena,

  • Sivakumar,

  • Radhika G Deshmukh,

  • V G Pratheep,

  • Zakir Hussain,

  1. Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Erode Sengunthar Engineering College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, St Joseph’s College of Engineering, OMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vel Tech High Tech Dr. Rangarajan, Dr. Sakunthala Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Industry Co-ordinator, Office of Digital Learning, IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
  6. Professor, Department of Chemistry, Varuvan Vadivelan Institute of Technology, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India
  7. Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, Maharshtra, India
  8. Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Velalar College of Engineering and Technology, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  9. Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Technology, Loyola Academy, Secunderabad, Telangana, India

Abstract

The growing demand for flexible photovoltaic and wearable optoelectronic devices has intensified research into polymer-based conductive composites that provide transparency, flexibility, and electrical efficiency. In this work, we report the fabrication and characterization of a hybrid polymer nanocomposite electrode comprising silver nanowires (AgNWs) embedded within a PEDOT:PSS matrix, deposited on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The PEDOT:PSS polymer phase, modified with 5 vol% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 0.1 vol% Zonyl fluorosurfactant, plays a dual role—acting as a conductive layer and a composite matrix that binds, encapsulates, and protects the AgNWs.The synthesized AgNWs had diameters of ~45 nm and lengths of 10–15 µm, achieving an aspect ratio >200. The resulting AgNW/PEDOT:PSS composite exhibited a high optical transmittance (>88%) across the visible spectrum, with an average transmittance of 85.6% at 550 nm. Electrical analysis showed a significant reduction in sheet resistance from 24.3 Ω/□ (bare AgNW film) to 21.2 Ω/□ for the composite, yielding a figure of merit (FoM) of 265 × 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹—exceeding conventional ITO benchmarks.Mechanical testing under 1000 bending cycles (radius: 2 mm) resulted in only a 6.4% increase in resistance, highlighting excellent flexibility and structural cohesion. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated superior thermal stability, with only an 8% increase in resistance after 100 hours of aging at 85°C and 85% relative humidity, compared to a 30% rise for uncoated AgNW films. These results validate AgNW/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites as high-performance, scalable alternatives to ITO for flexible electronic applications

Keywords: PEDOT:PSS, Flexible photovoltaics, thermal stability, polymer nanocomposites, conductive polymer composites.

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer and Composites ]

How to cite this article:
R. Muthukumar, S. M. Prakash, Nantha Kumar P, Dinesh V, Radhey Shyam Meena, Sivakumar, Radhika G Deshmukh, V G Pratheep, Zakir Hussain. Polymer-Nanowire Hybrid Composites Based on PEDOT: PSS and AgNWs for High-Performance Conductive Films in Flexible Devices. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(05):236-250.
How to cite this URL:
R. Muthukumar, S. M. Prakash, Nantha Kumar P, Dinesh V, Radhey Shyam Meena, Sivakumar, Radhika G Deshmukh, V G Pratheep, Zakir Hussain. Polymer-Nanowire Hybrid Composites Based on PEDOT: PSS and AgNWs for High-Performance Conductive Films in Flexible Devices. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(05):236-250. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=225295


Browse Figures

References

  1. De S, Higgins TM, Lyons PE, Doherty EM, Nirmalraj PN, Blau WJ, et al. Silver nanowire networks as flexible, transparent, conducting films: extremely high DC-to-optical conductivity ratios. ACS Nano. 2009;3:1767-1774.
  2. Mutiso RM, Sherrott MC, Rathmell AR, Wiley BJ, Winey KI. Integrating simulations and experiments to predict sheet resistance and optical transmittance in nanowire films for transparent conductors. ACS Nano. 2013;7:7654-7663.
  3. Kim H, Gilmore CM, Pique A, Horwitz JS, Mattoussi H, Murata H, et al. Electrical, optical, and structural properties of indium-tin-oxide thin films for organic light-emitting devices. J Appl Phys. 1999;86:6451-6461.
  4. Liu S, Ho S, So F. Novel patterning method for silver nanowire electrodes for thermal-evaporated organic light-emitting diodes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8:9268-9274.
  5. Gaynor W, Burkhard GF, McGehee MD, Peumans P. Smooth nanowire/polymer composite transparent electrodes. Adv Mater. 2011;23:2905-2910.
  6. Martinez V, Stauffer F, Adagunodo MO, Forro C, Voros J, Larmagnac A. Stretchable silver nanowire-elastomer composite microelectrodes with tailored electrical properties. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:13467-13475.
  7. Hu B, Li D, Ala O, Manandhar P, Fan Q, Kasilingam D, et al. Textile-based flexible electroluminescent devices. Adv Funct Mater. 2011;21:305-311.
  8. Prabhu FF, Kumar KP, Shanmugam A, Kumar M, Senthil TS, Dhanraj JA. Study on wear behaviour of Al6061 MMC with nano-MoC. Mater Today Proc. 2022;69(Part 3):1154–8.
  9. Jasmin MN, Sathish S, Senthil TS, Naidu BA, Das AD, Arun KK, et al. Investigation on natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite. Mater Today Proc. 2023;74(Part 1):60–3.
  10. Srinivas J, Karthikeyan KR, Senthil TS, Yesuraj K, Aultrin KSJ. Characterization of mechanical and viscoelastic properties of ceramic nanoparticle-reinforced polymer composites. J Polym Compos. 2024;13(1):71–82.
  11. Mary Jasmin N, Beena T, Senthil S, Sakthi S, Ramesh Kumar M, Rahul Alex S, et al. Machinability behaviors of synthesized beryllium composite. Mater Today Proc. 2023;74(Part 1):40–3.
  12. Priya CB, Ravi Kumar V, Umamaheswari D, Venkatesh R, Karthigairajan M, Kaliappan S, et al. Bio-degradable waste banana and neem fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites: Characteristics study. J Mech Sci Technol. 2024;38(4):1891–6.
  13. Chandramohan D, Sathish T, Dinesh Kumar S, Sudhakar M. Mechanical and thermal properties of jute/aloevera hybrid natural fiber reinforced composites. AIP Conf Proc. 2020; 2283(1).
  14. Saravanan AK, Rajendra Prasad A, Muruganandam D, Saravanan G, Vivekanandan S, Sudhakar M. Study on natural fiber composites of jute, pineapple, and banana compositions percentage of weight basis for thermal resistance and thermal conductivity. Mater Today Proc. 2020; 37:147–51.
  15. Logendran D, Gurusami K, AnandChakaravarthi MC, Puthilibai G, Suresh M, Sudhakar M. Experimental research on glass fibres/caustic soda treated banana fibers hybrid composite. Mater Today Proc. 2020; 33:4408–11.
  16. Muruganandam D, Jayapriya J, Suresh M, Chitradevi S, Puthilibai G, Sudhakar M. Simple study on behavior of composites with augmentation of silicon carbide on Al6061 aluminium alloy based on mechanical properties. Mater Today Proc. 2020; 33:4573–7.
  17. Vennila T, Surakasi R, Raghuram KS, Ravi G, Madhavarao S, Udagani C, Sudhakar M. Investigation on tensile behaviour of Al/Si3N4/sugarcane ash particles reinforced FSP composites. Int J Photoenergy. 2021; 59:1266–70.
  18. Miller MS, O’Kane JC, Niec A, Carmichael RS, Carmichael TB. Silver nanowire/optical adhesive coatings as transparent electrodes for flexible electronics. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013;5:10165-10172.
  19. Finn DJ, Lotya M, Coleman JN. Inkjet printing of silver nanowire networks. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:9254-9261.
  20. Wang J, Liang M, Fang Y, Qiu T, Zhang J, Zhi L. Rod-coating: towards large-area fabrication of uniform reduced graphene oxide films for flexible touch screens. Adv Mater. 2012;24:2874-2878.
  21. Gentili D, Foschi G, Valle F, Cavallini M, Biscarini F. Applications of dewetting in micro and nanotechnology. Chem Soc Rev. 2012;41:4430-4443.
  22. Li T-L, Hsu SL-C. Preparation and properties of a high-temperature, flexible and colorless ITO-coated polyimide substrate. Eur Polym J. 2007;43:3368-3373.
  23. Yang Y, Ding S, Araki T, Jiu J, Sugahara T, Wang J, et al. Facile fabrication of stretchable Ag nanowire/polyurethane electrodes using high-intensity pulsed light. Nano Res. 2016;9:401-414.
  24. Van de Groep J, Spinelli P, Polman A. Transparent conducting silver nanowire networks. Nano Lett. 2012;12:3138-3144.
  25. Amjadi M, Pichitpajongkit A, Lee S, Ryu S, Park I. Highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensor based on silver nanowire-elastomer nanocomposite. ACS Nano. 2014;8:5154-5163.
  26. Kim KK, Hong S, Cho HM, Lee J, Suh YD, Ham J, et al. Highly sensitive and stretchable multidimensional strain sensor with prestrained anisotropic metal nanowire percolation networks. Nano Lett. 2015;15:5240-5247.
  27. Duan S, Zhang L, Wang Z, Li C. One-step rod coating of high-performance silver nanowire–PEDOT:PSS flexible electrodes with enhanced adhesion after sulfuric acid post-treatment. RSC Adv. 2015;5:95280–95286.
  28. Cheong H-G, Song D-W, Park J-W. Transparent film heaters with highly enhanced thermal efficiency using silver nanowires and metal/metal-oxide blankets. Microelectron Eng. 2015;146:11–18.
  29. Song WG, Kwon H-J, Park J, Yeo J, Kim M, Park S, et al. High-performance flexible multilayer MoS2 transistors on solution-based polyimide substrates. Adv Funct Mater. 2016;26:2426–2434.
  30. Kim A, Won Y, Woo K, Kim C-H, Moon J. Highly transparent low-resistance ZnO–Ag nanowire–ZnO composite electrode for thin-film solar cells. ACS Nano. 2013;7:1081–1091.
  31. Ghosh DS, Chen TL, Formica N, Hwang J, Bruder I, Pruneri V. High figure-of-merit Ag/Al:ZnO nano-thick transparent electrodes for indium-free flexible photovoltaics. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells. 2012;107:338–343.
  32. He X, He R, Liu AL, Chen X, Zhao Z, Feng S, et al. A highly conductive, flexible, transparent composite electrode based on the lamination of silver nanowires and polyvinyl alcohol. J Mater Chem C. 2014;2:9737–9745.
  33. Guo X, Liu X, Luo J, Gan Z, Meng Z, Zhang N. Silver nanowire/polyimide composite transparent electrodes for reliable flexible polymer solar cells operating at high and ultra-low temperature. RSC Adv. 2015;5:24953–24959.
  34. Palaniappan M, Palanisamy S, Mani T, et al. Physico-chemical characterization of Grewia monticola Sond. fibers for polymer composites. J Nat Fibers. 2022;19(17):15276-15290. doi:10.1080/15440478.2022.2123076.
  35. Palanisamy S, Kalimuthu M, Azeez A, et al. Wear properties and post-moisture absorption mechanical behavior of kenaf/banana-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. Fibers. 2022;10(4):32. doi:10.3390/fib10040032.
  36. Palaniappan M, Palanisamy S, Mani T. Novel Ficus retusa L. aerial root fiber: a sustainable alternative for synthetic fibres in polymer composites reinforcement. Biomass Convers Biorefin. 2024;Ahead-of-print. doi:10.1007/s13399-024-05495-4.
  37. Palaniappan M, Palanisamy S, Khan R, et al. Synthesis and suitability characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from Citrus × sinensis peel waste for polymer composite applications. J Polym Res. 2024;31(4):105. doi:10.1007/s10965-024-03946-0.
  38. Palanisamy S, Kalimuthu M, Palaniappan M, et al. Characterization of Acacia caesia bark fibers (ACBFs). J Nat Fibers. 2022;19(15):10241-10252. doi:10.1080/15440478.2021.1993493.
  39. Ko E-H, Kim H-J, Lee S-J, Lee J-H, Kim H-K. Nano-sized Ag inserted into ITO films prepared by continuous roll-to-roll sputtering for high-performance, flexible, transparent film heaters. RSC Adv. 2016;6:46634–46642.
  40. Sachse C, Müller-Meskamp L, Bormann L, Kim YH, Lehnert F, Philipp A, et al. Transparent, dip-coated silver nanowire electrodes for small molecule organic solar cells. Org Electron. 2013;14:143–148.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 05
Received 04/08/2025
Accepted 13/08/2025
Published 23/08/2025
Publication Time 19 Days
306

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics