Laser assisted nano-welding of metal nanowires for flexible transparent conductors

Today's consumer electronics relies on a number of expensive, unsustainable materials and processes. One specific material, indium tin oxide (ITO), is widely used in mobile phone and computer displays, lighting and solar cells; however, this material is extremely expensive; it uses energy intensive manufacturing processes, and indium is a scarce material in limited supply which is unsustainable in the long term. This project proposes to develop an alternative material which can be a suitable subsitute for ITO. The new material is composed of a network of highly conductive silver nanostructures that are processed using laser radiation to obtain highly conductive and transparent films. The project aims to deliver a demonstrator of the new technology, and to produce transparent conductive films that will be tested and evaluated for use in various electronic devices.