Proton irradiation induced welding and fabrication of copper nano-wires network
Honey S, Naseem S, Ishaq A and Maaza M
University of Punjab, Pakistan
Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan
University of South Africa, South Africa
: J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol
Abstract
As a substitute for conventional transparent electrode, thin films of metal nanowires networks have long been act as promising contenders due to their high flexibility. However, nanowire-nanowire contact resistance is the main technical hindrance in terms of improvement in their performance. Here, random network of copper nanowires (Cu-NWs) is successfully prepared by spray coating on glass substrate followed by proton beam irradiation. A spray gun was used to coat a glass substrate with solution of Cu-NWs. While solution processed random network is coated on glass substrate, proton ion beam induced sputtering of atoms from nanowires lattices followed by point defects production and accumulation at crossing sharp angle interface regions, through molten zones introduced by proton ion induced thermal spikes, eventually solidify and lead to connect the nanowires. Using spray coating method, Cu-NWs thin film could be uniformly coated on a large area substrate, and spontaneously ion beam induced welding is carried out between nanowires in the network. Spray coated followed by proton beam induced welded Cu-NWs networks could improve performance by reducing contact resistance for application as a transparent electrodes.
Biography
Email: shehlahoney@yahoo.com
