Effects of acrylic acid on ITO coated polymer substrates for flexible displays

T Technology > TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy

Compton, David

University:University of Birmingham

Department:School of Metallurgy and Materials

关键词: T Technology;    TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy;   

Others  :  http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/3290/2/David_Compton_MRes.pdf

来源: University of Birmingham eTheses Repository

【 摘 要 】

Flexible, transparent and conductive layers are required for the production of flexible touchscreen displays. Indium tin oxide deposited on a PET or PEN substrate has been identified as a potential candidate for this application, but one barrier to its successful deployment is the deterioration of its conductive properties when exposed to acid and the simultaneous application of strain. Samples were produced with varying substrate temperatures at deposition and immersed in varying concentrations of acrylic acid, before resistance was measured during the application of strain. Samples were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and nanoscratching. PET samples cracked prior to the application of any strain due to a high thermal mismatch, whilst PEN samples remained intact and were therefore used for the majority of experimentation. All samples were found to be crystalline in nature, with a higher grain size present in those deposited at a higher temperature. The effect of increased thermal mismatch between substrate and ITO was caused a higher sensitivity to increasing acid concentration in samples deposited at a higher temperature. Cracks due to cohesive failure formed first and dominated the initial stages of sample failure, with cracks from adhesive failure forming later.