Fabrication and characterization of transparent conducting reduced graphene oxide/Ag nanowires/ZnO:Ga composite thin films on flexible substrates

In recent years, flexible transparent conducting films (TCFs) have attracted considerable research interest because they are essential materials in flexible optoelectronic devices, which are still limited by the lack of suitable electrode materials. In this study, a highly stable, transparent, and a flexible composite electrode was developed using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/silver nanowires (AgNWs)/Ga-doped zinc oxide (GZO) composite thin films. The rGO film was the first spin coated on flexible substrates and used as an adhesion enhancement layer. The AgNWs, which were used as a primary conductor, formed a random percolating network embedded between the rGO and GZO films. The GZO film was sputtered on the surface of the AgNWs and was used as a protective layer to prevent the oxidation of the AgNWs. The rGO/AgNWs/GZO composite thin film exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and superior stability to a monolayer or a bilayer TCF. The sheet resistance of the composite film (5.45 ± 0.41 Ω/□) slightly...