Researchers from Rice University created thin hybrid metal-graphene electrodes - that outperform ITO electrodes, are also more transparent and less resistance to electric current. This can be useful for transparent and flexible OLED displays or lighting panels.
The new electrode is a thin film of single-layer graphene and a fine grid of metal nanowire. It's basically a hybrid-graphene electrode. The metal is used to enhance the conductivity at the required transparency. The metal grid strengthens the graphene, and the graphene fills all the empty spaces between the grid. The researchers found a grid of five-micron nanowires made of inexpensive, lightweight aluminum did not detract from the material's transparency.
The team found out that the new electrode is also flexible. The conductivity decreases by 20%-30% after the first 50 bends, but after that it remains stable - even after 500 bends. They say that this is actually very close to commercialization.
