# US 10,312,001 B2 · Patterned overcoated nanowire transparent conducting coatings

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- Number: US 10,312,001 B2
- Document ID: US10312001B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/620,016
- Filed: 2017-06-12
- Published: 2017-09-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-18
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Mark J. Pellerite; Seth M. Kirk; Hyacinth L. Lechuga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312001B2

## CPC

- H01B 1/22: the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
- H01B 13/003: {using irradiation}
- H05K 9/009: {comprising electro-conductive fibres, e.g. metal fibres, carbon fibres, metallised textile fibres, electro-conductive mesh, woven, non-woven mat, fleece, cross-linked}
- H05K 9/0094: {being light-transmitting, e.g. transparent, translucent}
- H10K 30/82: Transparent electrodes, e.g. indium tin oxide [ITO] electrodes
- H10K 71/60: Forming conductive regions or layers, e.g. electrodes
- H10K 59/221: {Static displays, e.g. displaying permanent logos}
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A composite layer including first and second layers is described. The first layer includes a plurality of metallic nanowires and the second layer includes a polymeric overcoat disposed on the nanowires. In top plan view, the composite layer has at least one first region and at least one second region, where the nanowires in each first region form an interconnected network of the nanowires, and each second region includes a plurality of nanotrenches through the second layer into the first layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composite layer comprising:
a first layer comprising a plurality of metallic nanowires;
a second layer comprising a polymeric overcoat disposed on the nanowires,
wherein, in top plan view, the composite layer has at least one first region and at least one second region, the nanowires in each first region forming an interconnected network of the nanowires, each second region comprising a plurality of nanotrenches through the second layer into the first layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composite layer of claim 1, wherein each second region has an electrical resistivity of at least 1000 times an electrical resistivity of a first region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composite layer of claim 1, wherein each nanotrench has a width no less than a diameter of a nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires and no greater than 1 micrometer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The composite layer of claim 3, wherein at least one nanotrench in the plurality of nanotrenches extends along a length of the nanotrench between first and second ends of the nanotrench, an end of a first metallic nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires disposed at the first end of the nanotrench.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The composite layer of claim 4, wherein the first metallic nanowire and the nanotrench define a smooth curve extending along a length of the first metallic nanowire and along the length of the nanotrench.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The composite layer of claim 4, wherein an end of a second metallic nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires is disposed at the second end of the nanotrench.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The composite layer of claim 6, wherein the first metallic nanowire, the nanotrench, and the second metallic nanowire define a smooth curve extending along a length of the first metallic nanowire, along the length of the nanotrench, and along a length of the second metallic nanowire.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composite layer of claim 1, wherein the metallic nanowires have at least one cross-sectional dimension less than 200 nm and the polymeric overcoat has a thickness of at least 200 nm.

### Claim 9

A composite layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region, each first and second region comprising a plurality of metallic nanowires and a polymeric overcoat disposed on the nanowires, the nanowires in each first region forming an interconnected network of the nanowires, each second region comprising a plurality of nanotrenches such that each second region has an electrical resistivity of at least 1000 times an electrical resistivity of a first region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The composite layer of claim 9, wherein each nanotrench has a width no less than a diameter of a nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires and no greater than 1 micrometer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The composite layer of claim 10, wherein at least one nanotrench in the plurality of nanotrenches extends along a length of the nanotrench between first and second ends of the nanotrench, an end of a first metallic nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires disposed at the first end of the nanotrench.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The composite layer of claim 11, wherein the first metallic nanowire and the nanotrench define a smooth curve extending along a length of the first metallic nanowire and along the length of the nanotrench.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The composite layer of claim 11, wherein an end of a second metallic nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires is disposed at the second end of the nanotrench.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The composite layer of claim 13, wherein the first metallic nanowire, the nanotrench, and the second metallic nanowire define a smooth curve extending along a length of the first metallic nanowire, along the length of the nanotrench, and along a length of the second metallic nanowire.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The composite layer of claim 9, wherein the metallic nanowires have at least one cross-sectional dimension less than 200 nm and the polymeric overcoat has a thickness of at least 200 nm.

### Claim 16

A composite layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region, each first and second region comprising a plurality of metallic nanowires and a polymeric overcoat disposed on the nanowires, the nanowires in each first region forming an interconnected network of the nanowires, each second region comprising a plurality of nanotrenches free of nanowires, each nanotrench replacing a segment of an otherwise continuous nanowire.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The composite layer of claim 16, wherein each second region has an electrical resistivity of at least 1000 times an electrical resistivity of a first region.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The composite layer of claim 16, wherein each nanotrench has a width no less than a diameter of a nanowire in the plurality of metallic nanowires and no greater than 1 micrometer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The composite layer of claim 16, wherein the metallic nanowires have at least one cross-sectional dimension less than 200 nm and the polymeric overcoat has a thickness of at least 200 nm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The composite layer of claim 16, wherein the plurality of metallic nanowires comprises silver nanowires.