Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Ligand-exchanged AgNW electrodes achieve a work function >5 eV, closely matching the HOMO of IDT-BT, which reduces the hole injection barrier and yields a hole mobility of 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 in p-type OTFTs—a performance metric that directly addresses the chronic current-limiting factor in stretchable organic transistors. • • The post-treatment-free fabrication protocol eliminates additional processing steps (e.g., plasma or welding), streamlining manufacturing and reducing potential damage to underlying elastomer substrates, which is critical for high-throughput roll-to-roll production of stretchable electronics. • • Devices retain their original mobility after 30% tensile strain, demonstrating that the ligand exchange does not deteriorate the mechanical deformability of the AgNW network; this strain tolerance is essential for wearable and skin-mounted applications where cyclic deformation is unavoidable. • • The work function tuning via ligand exchange is achieved without compromising the inherent stretchability of the AgNW electrodes, overcoming the trade-off between electrical performance and mechanical robustness that has historically hindered the adoption of AgNWs in high-performance stretchable OTFTs.
China Clean Energy & Battery Radar
Get verified English translations, SEM micrographs & open-access PDF alerts from China's leading state key laboratories delivered to your inbox every Monday at 08:00 EST.
Abstract
Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are established as promising conductors for stretchable electronics, yet their application in p-type organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) is constrained by a substantial work function mismatch with the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of organic semiconductors, resulting in severe charge injection barriers and degraded device performance. This study addresses the bottleneck through a ligand exchange reaction on the AgNW surface using fluorinated molecules, combined with a post-treatment-free fabrication process. The ligand-exchanged AgNW electrodes exhibit a work function exceeding 5 eV, closely aligning with the HOMO level of the p-type polymer semiconductor poly(indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole) (IDT-BT). Consequently, IDT-BT-based OTFTs incorporating these electrodes demonstrate a reduced threshold voltage and enhanced carrier transport, achieving a hole mobility of 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1. Critically, the ligand exchange does not compromise mechanical deformability; the devices retain their original mobility after being subjected to 30% strain. These results validate the ligand-exchange strategy as an effective route for work function tuning of AgNW electrodes, enabling high-performance stretchable organic electronics without sacrificing mechanical resilience.
1. Introduction
Stretchable organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are pivotal for emerging wearable electronics, biomedical sensors, and conformable displays. Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have emerged as leading candidates for stretchable electrodes due to their high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and solution processability. However, the integration of AgNWs into p-type OTFTs is severely impeded by a work function mismatch: the typical work function of commercial AgNWs stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is around 4.5 eV, while the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of high-mobility p-type semiconductors such as poly(indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole) (IDT-BT) lies near 5.2 eV. This energy offset creates a substantial hole injection barrier, elevating threshold voltages and degrading carrier mobility, ultimately limiting device performance. Existing post-treatment strategies—plasma treatment, welding, or coating modification layers—primarily enhance conductivity, adhesion, or corrosion resistance, but rarely address the work function mismatch. Consequently, stretchable p-type OTFTs continue to suffer from compromised electrical characteristics, stalling their commercial viability.
This study introduces a ligand exchange reaction on the AgNW surface using fluorinated molecules to elevate the work function above 5 eV, aligning it with the HOMO of IDT-BT. The approach is executed without post-treatment, simplifying fabrication and preserving the mechanical integrity of the elastomer-embedded AgNW network. The resulting electrodes enable p-type OTFTs with a hole mobility of 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a reduced threshold voltage. Notably, the devices maintain their original mobility after 30% strain, demonstrating that the ligand exchange does not compromise stretchability. This protocol directly tackles the charge injection bottleneck, offering a scalable route to high-performance stretchable organic electronics.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
GUO Yuqi, ZHAO Bin, DONG Weijia, XU Chenhui, GAO Ruoqi, HAN Yang, DENG Yunfeng, GENG Yanhou (2025). High work function silver nanowire electrodes via ligand exchange reaction for stretchable organic thin-film transistors. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3448-1
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the specific work function value achieved by the ligand-exchanged AgNWs, and how does it compare to the HOMO of IDT-BT?
The ligand-exchanged AgNWs exhibit a work function exceeding 5 eV, which closely matches the HOMO level of IDT-BT (approximately 5.2 eV). This alignment reduces the hole injection barrier from the electrode to the semiconductor, enabling a hole mobility of 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 in p-type OTFTs.
Does the ligand exchange reaction affect the mechanical stretchability of the AgNW electrodes or the resulting devices?
No. The ligand exchange on the AgNW surface causes no deterioration of the deformability. The IDT-BT-based OTFTs largely retain their original mobility after being stretched by 30% strain, confirming that the mechanical resilience of the AgNW network is preserved.
What are the advantages of the post-treatment-free fabrication process compared to conventional post-treatment methods?
The post-treatment-free process eliminates additional steps such as plasma treatment, welding, or coating modification layers, which are typically used to enhance conductivity or adhesion but can damage elastomer substrates or complicate manufacturing. This simplification reduces processing time and cost, and avoids potential degradation of the stretchable substrate, facilitating scalable production.
How does the ligand exchange strategy compare to other work function tuning methods for AgNW electrodes?
Unlike many post-treatment methods that focus on conductivity, adhesion, or anti-corrosion, the ligand exchange directly tunes the work function by replacing surface ligands with fluorinated molecules. This chemical modification achieves a work function >5 eV without compromising the inherent stretchability of the AgNW network, whereas other approaches may not address the energy level mismatch or may introduce mechanical trade-offs.
What is the significance of the 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 hole mobility for stretchable OTFTs?
A hole mobility of 0.4 cm2 V−1 s−1 represents a substantial improvement over devices with untreated AgNW electrodes, where severe injection barriers typically yield much lower mobilities. This value is competitive with many reported stretchable p-type OTFTs and demonstrates that the ligand exchange strategy effectively enhances carrier transport, making it viable for high-performance stretchable electronics.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.