A robust and flexible silver nanowire/silica sol/poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) transparent conductive film for film heater

A robust, flexible and transparent silver nanowires(AgNWs)/silica sol/poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite film was fabricated for film heater via spray-coating AgNWs ink, silica sol and PEDOT:PSS onto the surface of polyethylene glycol terephthalate substrate in turn. Silica sol nanoparticles are absorbed around the AgNWs to improve the connection between AgNWs by capillary effect, and the PEDOT:PSS covers on the surface of AgNWs/silica sol layer to increase the network conductive paths and protect the AgNWs/silica sol layer. The AgNWs/silica sol/PEDOT:PSS composite film shows a sheet resistance of 12 Ω/sq, a transmittance of 87.5% at 550 nm and a Joule heating temperature of 99 °C at 15 V. The composite film with high mechanical stability, low surface roughness and corrosion resistance is promisingly used in window defrost and deicer system.