Abstract: A transparent, electrically-conductive film and associated method of making the transparent, electrically-conductive film. The transparent, electrically-conductive film includes a substrate, a percolating network of nanostructures establishing electrical conductivity across a region of the substrate, and an overcoat matrix coated onto the substrate. The nanostructures have an average diameter value. The percolating network of nanostructures is located within the overcoat matrix. The overcoat matrix and the percolating network of nanostructures therein have an overall thickness that is less than four times the average diameter value of the nanostructures.

Abstract: A method of forming a transparent, electrically-conductive film and an associated film. The method can be a transfer method. A region of a substrate is provided with a binder that includes metal nanostructures suspended in a photosensitive polymeric material. A donor substrate can be used. Photolithography is used to pattern the binder. The patterned binder is developed using a developing fluid that: (i) removes a portion of the photosensitive polymeric material according to a pattern of the binder, and (ii) includes a nanostructure etchant that etches the metal nanostructures.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive film. The method includes applying an ink onto a substrate. The ink includes a plurality of nanostructures formed from an electrically-conductive material and a polymer binder. The method includes drying the ink on the substrate. The method includes applying an overcoat material solution onto the dried ink. The overcoat solution includes at least some solvent suitable to provide at least some solubility of the binder. Also, a conductive film that includes a substrate, a matrix on the substrate, and a plurality of nanostructures within the matrix. The matrix is provided as a resultant of a polymer binder present within an ink that carried the nanostructures that was applied and dried upon the substrate, a dried/cured overcoat material that that was applied on the dried ink layer in the form of a coating solution that included a polymer and at least some solvent to provide at least some solubility of the binder, with the binder being at least partially dissolved.

Abstract: A transparent, electrically-conductive film and associated method of making the transparent, electrically-conductive film. The transparent, electrically-conductive film includes a substrate, a percolating network of nanostructures establishing electrical conductivity across a region of the substrate, and an overcoat matrix coated onto the substrate. The nanostructures have an average diameter value. The percolating network of nanostructures is located within the overcoat matrix. The overcoat matrix and the percolating network of nanostructures therein have an overall thickness that is less than four times the average diameter value of the nanostructures.

Abstract: A method for predicting at least one performance property of a transparent conductive film to be made from an ink containing nanowires prior to making the transparent conductive film. The method includes obtaining a nanowire population from the ink for analysis. The method includes determining at least one of lengths and diameters for all the nanowires within the population from the ink. The method includes comparing the determined at least one of lengths and diameters to a value index that is correlated to the at least one performance property of the to-be-made transparent conductive film.