Electrochromic, Surface-Anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks for Stabilized Silver Nanowire Flexible Transparent Electrodes

Despite excellent optical and electrical properties, the brittleness of indium tin oxide (ITO), used as a transparent electrode, prevents the realization of stable flexible devices. If silver nanowire (AgNW) networks represent a promising alternative, their lack of thermal and electrochemical stability still prevents their fast development in numerous applications. Herein, we report a novel strategy consisting of the deposition of an electrochromic and protective layer of oriented hybrid materials, also known as surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks (SurMOFs). Furthermore, the dual role played by the SurMOF is achieved using a room-temperature and low-cost method for the efficient use of bare AgNWs. A step forward was achieved by demonstrating electrochemical and mechanical stability for flexible electrochromic SurMOF@AgNW/PET thin films, switching reversibly from orange (+0.2 V) to blue (-0.8 V) in 8.4 s and 10.4 s, respectively, with a color efficiency of 158 cm(2)/C after being bent 300 times.