Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes

Graphene is considered one of the most promising flexible transparent electrode materials as it has high charge carrier mobility, high electrical conductivity, low optical absorption, excellent mechanical strength, and good bendability. However, graphene-based flexible transparent electrodes face a...

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Main Authors: Yongcheng Zheng, Hai Zi, Shuqi Wang, Shengming Yin, Xu Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8553
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author Yongcheng Zheng
Hai Zi
Shuqi Wang
Shengming Yin
Xu Shen
author_facet Yongcheng Zheng
Hai Zi
Shuqi Wang
Shengming Yin
Xu Shen
author_sort Yongcheng Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Graphene is considered one of the most promising flexible transparent electrode materials as it has high charge carrier mobility, high electrical conductivity, low optical absorption, excellent mechanical strength, and good bendability. However, graphene-based flexible transparent electrodes face a critical challenge in balancing electrical conductivity and optical transmittance. Here, we present a green and scalable direct ink writing (DIW) strategy to fabricate graphene grid patterns by optimizing ink formulation with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ethanol. SDS eliminates the coffee ring effect via Marangoni flow, while ethanol enhances graphene flake alignment during hot-pressing, achieving a high conductivity of 5.22 × 10<sup>5</sup> S m<sup>−1</sup>. The grid-patterned graphene-based flexible transparent electrodes exhibit a low sheet resistance of 21.3 Ω/sq with 68.5% transmittance as well as a high stability in high-temperature and corrosive environments, surpassing most metal/graphene composites. This method avoids toxic solvents and high-temperature treatments, demonstrating excellent stability in harsh environments.
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issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-9aba3459e35d4a27a0e6cc3febbb66d52025-08-20T03:02:55ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-08-011515855310.3390/app15158553Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent ElectrodesYongcheng Zheng0Hai Zi1Shuqi Wang2Shengming Yin3Xu Shen4College of Modern Intelligent Manufacturing Industry, West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences, Dali 671006, ChinaCollege of Modern Intelligent Manufacturing Industry, West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences, Dali 671006, ChinaCollege of Modern Intelligent Manufacturing Industry, West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences, Dali 671006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaGraphene is considered one of the most promising flexible transparent electrode materials as it has high charge carrier mobility, high electrical conductivity, low optical absorption, excellent mechanical strength, and good bendability. However, graphene-based flexible transparent electrodes face a critical challenge in balancing electrical conductivity and optical transmittance. Here, we present a green and scalable direct ink writing (DIW) strategy to fabricate graphene grid patterns by optimizing ink formulation with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ethanol. SDS eliminates the coffee ring effect via Marangoni flow, while ethanol enhances graphene flake alignment during hot-pressing, achieving a high conductivity of 5.22 × 10<sup>5</sup> S m<sup>−1</sup>. The grid-patterned graphene-based flexible transparent electrodes exhibit a low sheet resistance of 21.3 Ω/sq with 68.5% transmittance as well as a high stability in high-temperature and corrosive environments, surpassing most metal/graphene composites. This method avoids toxic solvents and high-temperature treatments, demonstrating excellent stability in harsh environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8553direct ink writingtransparent graphene electrodegrid patternelectrical conductivity
spellingShingle Yongcheng Zheng
Hai Zi
Shuqi Wang
Shengming Yin
Xu Shen
Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
Applied Sciences
direct ink writing
transparent graphene electrode
grid pattern
electrical conductivity
title Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
title_full Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
title_fullStr Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
title_full_unstemmed Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
title_short Graphene-Based Grid Patterns Fabricated via Direct Ink Writing for Flexible Transparent Electrodes
title_sort graphene based grid patterns fabricated via direct ink writing for flexible transparent electrodes
topic direct ink writing
transparent graphene electrode
grid pattern
electrical conductivity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8553
work_keys_str_mv AT yongchengzheng graphenebasedgridpatternsfabricatedviadirectinkwritingforflexibletransparentelectrodes
AT haizi graphenebasedgridpatternsfabricatedviadirectinkwritingforflexibletransparentelectrodes
AT shuqiwang graphenebasedgridpatternsfabricatedviadirectinkwritingforflexibletransparentelectrodes
AT shengmingyin graphenebasedgridpatternsfabricatedviadirectinkwritingforflexibletransparentelectrodes
AT xushen graphenebasedgridpatternsfabricatedviadirectinkwritingforflexibletransparentelectrodes