Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

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Materials Today: Proceedings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr

A review on the electrically conductive transparent polymer composites:

Materials and applications
Atish Kumar , Narendra Kumar *
Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar 144008, India

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Polymer composites have advanced tremendously in recent decades as the outcome of notable investigations.
Transparent Polymer Among these advances, electrically conductive transparent polymer composites (ECTPCs) have emerged as a
Electrically Conductive Composites potential family of materials that combine electrical conductivity with optical transparency. ECTPCs have a wide
CNTs
range of possible applications, including optoelectronics, solar cells, touch screens, smart windows, and more.
Optoelectronics
Transparent Conductive Films (TCFs)
This paper gives a complete summary of the most recent advances in the manufacture, characterization, and
applications of ECTPCs. The article discussed the various conductive filler materials used in ECTPCs, including
metal powder, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene alongside their incorporation methods into the trans­
parent polymer matrix. Additionally, the factors influencing the electrical conductivity and optical transmittance
of ECTPCs are thoroughly discussed, accompanied by a detailed description of characterization techniques.
Despite the immense potential of ECTPCs, it is important to consider the challenges and limitations. Thus, the
review addresses these concerns, including the need to strike a balance between electrical conductivity and
optical transparency while ensuring long-term stability. Moreover, the future prospects for the development and
practical applications of ECTPCs are explored, highlighting potential avenues for further research and ad­
vancements in this field. Overall, this review offers valuable insight into the latest advances in ECTPCs, their
methods of fabrication, methods of characterization, and possible applications. By addressing challenges and
outlining future directions, the current article contributes to the ongoing progress and paves the way for the
practical implementation of ECTPCs in various industries.

1. Introduction
Electrically conductive transparent polymer composites (ECTPCs)
have gained significant attention due to their unique combination of
optical transmittance and electrical conductivity. These composites
consist of a polymer matrix embedded with conductive fillers, such as
carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal nanoparticles, or conductive poly­
mers[1].ECTPCs are promising materials for use in different applications
such as optoelectronics, solar cells, sensing panels, and smart windows.
Thus the development of so-called conductive polymer composites has
come into existence since the 1950 s [2]. Historically Transparent
Conductive Oxides (TCOs) like Indium tin oxide (ITO), and fluorine-
doped tin oxide (FTO), etc. based transparent conductors are largely
used[34]. However, TCO-based conductors possess issues like low me­
chanical durability, high fabrication cost, limited availability (specially
indium-based oxides, ITOs), and more[56]. Thus, both economically and
technically, TCO-based conductors are unable to keep up with the pre­
sent development of optoelectronic devices. Thus, the need for in­
vestigations on the variety of other materials for the replacement of
TCOs has increased intensively[6]. In recent years, the development of
ECTPCs has undergone considerable progress, and several conductive
fillers have been used in their fabrication. Nowadays metal-based

Abbreviations: Ag, Silver; AgNWs, Silver nanowires; AZO, Aluminum-doped zinc oxide; CNTs, Carbon nanotubes; Cu, Copper; CuNWs, Copper nanowires; ECTPCs,
Electrically conductive transparent polymer composites; EDOT, Ethyldioxythiophene; EVA, Ethylene vinyl acetate; FTO, Fluorine-doped tin oxide; GO, Graphene
oxide; ITO, Indium tin oxide; NaBH4, Sodium Borohydride; OLED, Organic light-emitting diode; OPVs, Organic photovoltaics; PANI, Polyaniline; PC, Polycarbonate;
PDMS, Polydimethyl siloxane; PEDOT, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); PET, Polyethylene terephthalate; PMMA, Poly (methyl methacrylate); PPy, Polypyrrole ;
PS, Polystyrene; PSS, Polystyrene sulfonate; PVB, Polyvinyl butyral; PVDF, Poly(vinylidenefluoride); SDBS, Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate; SEM, Scanning
Electron Microscope; TCF, Transparent Conducting Oxide; TCOs, Transparent Conductive Oxides; TPU, Thermoplastic polyurethanes; TFHs, Transparent film heaters.
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: kumarn@nitj.ac.in (N. Kumar).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.07.211

2214-7853/Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 7th International
Conference on Production and Industrial Engineering.

Please cite this article as: Atish Kumar, Narendra Kumar, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.07.211
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
conductive fillers like silver nanowires (AgNWs), and copper nanowires
(CuNWs) along with carbon-based fillers like graphene and carbon
nanotubes (CNTs) are used in the ECTPCs due to their advanced me­
chanical properties over TCO based conductors. By understanding the
materials and properties of ECTPCs, as well as their applications, re­
searchers, engineers, and industry professionals can further advance the
development and utilization of these materials. The present review
article provides the information about materials and applications of
ECTPCs, with a focus on their properties, fabrication, challenges, and
applications. The review aims to provide insight into the potential of
ECTPCs as a new class of materials and stimulate further research in this
field. By examining the current state of the field, identifying challenges,
and exploring potential solutions, this review aims to contribute to the
continued growth and advancement of ECTPCs as a versatile and im­
pactful class of materials.
2. Materials for electrically conductive transparent polymer
composites (ECTPCs)
Optical transmittance and Conductivity are the main attributes
required in ECTPCs, which determine the performance of ECTPCs.
Intrinsically conducting polymers including polyaniline (PANI) [7],
polypyrrole (PPy) [8], polyazulene [9], polyfluorene [10], poly­
thiophene [11], etc. offer good electrical conductivity [12] however lack
optical transmittance. Thus, to develop ECTPCs, conductive fillers such
as metal nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene, conducting polymers,
etc. [13] are incorporated into a transparent polymer matrix. Electrical
conductivity can be incorporated into insulating polymers through the
incorporation of conductive filers alongside maintaining their polymeric
characteristics of transparency[14]. The formation of conductive paths
of filler particles within the polymer matrix results in the conductivity of
such transparent composites [14]. In addition to this, the properties of
ECTPCs can be optimized by adjusting the concentration and structure
of the conductive fillers within the transparent polymer matrix. Thus, in
this section different transparent polymers and conductive fillers avail­
able in the literature are discussed.
2.1. Transparent polymers
Transparent polymers are key components in the fabrication of
Electrically Conductive Transparent Polymer Composites (ECTPCs). The
general transparency of a material can be defined as its capacity to allow
visible light to pass through it. Transparency is a unitless measure and is
usually expressed as the percentage of transmitted light to incident light.
Several factors influence a material’s degree of transparency, including
reflection, absorption, and scattering. To achieve maximum trans­
parency, it is crucial to minimize the amount of reflection, absorption,
and scattering. Inorganic glass is a highly transparent material that is
frequently employed in optical devices such as lenses and mirrors, as
well as in construction materials such as window panels and vehicle
windshields. However, due to its poor mechanical properties like its
brittle nature and low impact strength, the use of glass raises safety
concerns [15]. Therefore, transparent polymeric materials are being
increasingly utilized as a substitute for glass, due to their advantageous
properties such as high impact resistance, flexibility, low density, high
strength-to-weight ratio, and rapid manufacturing capabilities. Poly­
mers can be classified into two categories based on their degree of
crystallinity: semicrystalline polymers and amorphous polymers.
Amorphous polymers are composed of completely random polymer
chains, while semicrystalline polymers consist of both random and or­
dered polymer chains or both crystalline and amorphous regions [16] as
illustrated in Fig. 1. Such polymers can be differentiated based on the
degree of crystallinity, which also affects the properties of these
polymers.
In a semicrystalline polymer, different amorphous and crystalline
regions are present separated by several boundaries. These numerous
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Fig. 1. Structure of (a) Amorphous polymer (b) Semicrystalline polymer [16].
Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
boundaries can contribute to light scattering, resulting in reduced
transparency. Moreover, significant light scattering can also occur on
the grain boundaries of the crystalline region, further increasing
opaqueness [17] as illustrated in Fig. 2.
In amorphous polymers, light scattering can be caused by defects
such as pores and inclusions. However, a defect-free, non-absorbing
amorphous polymer is generally considered transparent. Thus, Amor­
phous polymers make up the largest category of transparent polymers
such as polycarbonate (PC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly­
styrene (PS), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), polyvinyl butyral
(PVB), and copolymer ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) [18]. Most of these
transparent polymers lack electrical conductivity which limits their
usage in many applications. Thus, to impart electrical conductivity in
these polymers electrically conductive fillers are added, which will be
discussed in the next section.
2.2. Conductive fillers
The use of conductive fillers in polymers is a well-known technique
for enhancing the electrical conductivity of transparent polymers. His­
torically Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCOs) like Indium tin oxide
(ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) [19], and aluminum-doped zinc
oxide (AZO) are often used as the filler materials for the ECTPCs [20].
Among these, Indium tin oxide (ITO) is widely used as a transparent
conducting oxide (TCO) in the ECTPCs, owing to its exceptional optical
transparency and low sheet resistance [21]. Despite their suitability for
certain applications, TCOs have several drawbacks such as high fabri­
cation costs, limited availability, and brittleness. Therefore, recently
various other materials like carbon-based conductive fillers, metal-
based conductive fillers, etc. have been extensively studied. The selec­
tion of appropriate material depends on the application and cost asso­
ciated with raw material and production. Thus, the present review
focuses on these emerging conductive fillers for the ECTPCs.
2.2.1. Metal-based filler
Metals possess high electrical conductivity owing to their abundance
of free electrons that can easily conduct electric current. However, metal
exhibits low transmittance due to their high reflectivity. Thus, Latest
research efforts have been concentrated on metallic nanostructures
(nanoparticles and nanowires) owing to their distinct optoelectronic
properties. Metal nanoparticles, such as silver (Ag) and copper (Cu),
have gained significant interest as conductive fillers alternative to ITO in
ECTPCs due to their high electrical conductivity and solution process­
ability [22]. Neophytou et al. [23] reported an alternative to ITO-based
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
Fig. 2. Light transmission through a semicrystalline polymer [17]. Reprinted with permission from Taylor and Francis.
transparent anodes for organic solar cell applications, which involved an
inkjet-printed silver (Ag) grid combined with PEDOT: PSS having
different conductivities. Authors reported higher transparency when
compared to different thicknesses of the ITO baes composites. Li et. al
[24] fabricated conductive Cu lines onto poly(vinylidene fluoride)
(PVDF) substrate inkjet printing of copper salt and sodium borohydride
(NaBH4) solution. Metal-based ECTPCs exhibit poor substrate adhesion
which limits their applications in flexible electronics [22]. Also, the
complex fabrication process of metal NP-based ECTPCs results in high
fabrication costs and challenges in the mass production of conducting
electrodes [25]. Thus, in this respect, recent research has been directed
toward metallic nanowires (NWs). Metal nanowires (NWs) have several
advantages over metal nanoparticles, one of the main advantages is
higher conductivity, which is achieved due to their smoother and more
continuous electrical connection. Another advantage of using metal
NWs is improved mechanical flexibility, due to metal NWs’ increased
ability to survive deformation without significantly increasing re­
sistivity. In recent years, there has been extensive research on metallic
nanowires (NWs), particularly silver and copper NWs. The electrical
conductivity and transmittance of nanowire networks, especially those
based on silver nanowires (AgNWs), have been found to be comparable
or even superior to those of ITO [26–28]. The arrangement of over­
lapping nanowires allows for light to pass through the open spaces be­
tween individual nanowires while electrical current is conducted along
the metallic nanowires. There are several solution-processed methods
available [29,30] to fabricate AgNWs network films from AgNWs sus­
pensions, including vacuum filtration [31], dip coating [32], spray-
coating [33 34], spin coating [35], inkjet printing [36], and Meyer
rod coating [37]. The majority of solution-based techniques for the
fabrication of the AgNWs are cost-effective as compared to vacuum
deposition for ITO production [20]. Along with AgNWs, copper nano­
wires (CuNWs) are also used for the fabrication of ECTPCs due to their
excellent conductivity and lower cost to silver up to 20 times, thus
CuNWs can be used as a low-cost alternative to AgNWs. The fabrication
of CuNWs is commonly achieved through wet solution processes uti­
lizing an EDA-mediated approach or an alkylamine-mediated synthetic
route. CuNWs with diameters of 90–120 nm and lengths of 40–50 mm
(with an aspect ratio of 350–450) were synthesized by Chang et al. [38]
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using Cu(NO3)2 precursor, hydrazine, EDA, and NaOH at temperatures
ranging from 25 to 100 ◦ C. Copper nanowires (CuNWs) have some
limitations when used for producing ECTPCs, such as susceptibility to
corrosion and color issues. When exposed to air, copper can react with
oxygen and become oxidized. Additionally, the reddish-brown color of
copper is not desirable for certain applications, such as displays [39].
2.2.2. Carbons based filler
Graphene [40] and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [41] are two common
carbon-based materials that possess numerous advantageous properties
such as high chemical stability, wide spectral range of transmittance,
low cost, and most importantly, exceptional mechanical flexibility
[42,43]. Graphene has remarkable electrical [44], thermal [45], and
mechanical [46] characteristics, making it a desirable material for use in
various devices and as a component in composite materials [47]. Gra­
phene, despite its exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical
properties, has some drawbacks as a nanofiller, including surface hy­
drophobicity and agglomeration in aqueous solutions, which can limit
its use in nanocomposite applications[48]. Thus, to overcome the sur­
face hydrophobicity and agglomeration issues of graphene, surface
functionalization techniques have been developed. Graphene oxide
(GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which are graphene de­
rivatives, have been widely used in practical applications [49]. Hu et al.
[50] fabricated nanocomposites of (3,4-ethyldioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/
graphene by carrying out in situ polymerization of monomer 3,4-ethyl­
dioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer in a solution containing sulfonated
graphene. The films that were fabricated exhibit remarkable properties
such as high transparency, electrical conductivity, and flexibility, as well
as excellent thermal stability. The optical transmittance and flexibility of
the thin films are demonstrated in Fig. 3.
Lee et al.[51] demonstrated the fabrication of high-quality graphene
films on Ni and Cu films, which were subsequently supported by a
polymer layer as demonstrated in Fig. 4. The resulting graphene films
were then transferred onto transparent polymeric substrates such as
Polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
exhibiting exceptional transparency and electromechanical modulation.
A similar technique has been employed to fabricate graphene films on
metal substrates for various applications, including solar cells [52], field
A. Kumar and N. Kumar Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 3. Transparent PEDOT/graphene composites [50]. No reprint permission required under open access license.

Fig. 4. Synthesis, etching, and transfer of large-area graphene films [51]. Reprinted with permission from the American Chemical Society.

Fig. 5. Single-walled and multiwalled CNTs.

emission devices [53], and touchscreen panels[54]. Although graphene
is a very promising material for the fabrication of ECTPCs. However
lower aspect ratio of graphene results in poor conductivity and me­
chanical strength, due to which some researchers had shifted their in­
terest to other allotropes of carbon like carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nano-scale materials made up of cy­
lindrical structures consisting of one or multiple layers of rolled-up
graphene sheets with sp2 hybridization as illustrated in Fig. 5. Since
CNTs are cylindrical structures made up of rolled-up graphene sheets,
and due to their high length-to-diameter ratio, they are considered one-
dimensional nanocarbon materials. CNTs exhibit outstanding electrical
[55], thermal [56], mechanical [57], and chemical properties [58], as
well as high optical transparency which makes them a popular choice as
a nanofiller in polymeric matrices [59–61], Hecht et al. [62] utilized
CNTs to fabricate films on PET substrate for touch screen panel
applications. The resulting PET films containing CNTs demonstrated
high visible light transmission, chemical, and environmental stability, as
well as superior mechanical performance when compared to traditional
ITO-based films. Feng et al. [63] developed a roll-to-roll drawing process
for the fabrication of polymer/MWCNTs composites TCFs as shown in
Fig. 6. The fabricated TCFs exhibited sheet resistances of 208 and 24
Ω/square at 90% and 83.4% transmittance, respectively. Kim et al. [64]
fabricated flexible transparent electrodes using /poly (3,4-ethyl­
enedioxy-thiophene)/ single wall carbon nanotube (PEDOT/SWNT) by
in situ polymerization. Fabricated nanocomposites exhibit excellent
flexibility, high transparency, and improved electrical properties. Shim
et al. [65] demonstrated a typical approach to fabricate CNT-based TCFs
using spray-coating SDBS-aided dispersion. On removal of SDBS, solu­
tions of transition metal slats including AuCl3, IrCl3, and Ni(NO3)3 were
utilized for doping, which resulted in the CNT-based TCFs with a sheet

4
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
Fig. 6. (a) Superalligned CNTs (SACNTs) (b) SEM image of the SACNT array (c) SEM image of the SACNT array, top view (d) Illustration of the roll-to-roll setup TCFs
fabrication (e) a reel of fabricated TCFs [63]. Reprinted with permission from John Wiley and Sons.
resistance of 92 Ω/square at 83.8% transmittance.
2.2.3. Conductive polymer-based filler
Conductive polymers like polythiophene and polyaniline, as well as
their derivatives, have become a topic of growing interest for ECTPCs in
research due to their solubility in commonly used solvents and the
enhanced stability of their doped systems. Poly(3,4-
ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) is a
commonly utilized polythiophene material consisting of a conducting
polymer that is positively doped with PEDOT and a stabilizing agent, PSS,
which helps to stabilize the positive charges. However conductive poly­
mers have a limitation in their adoption for transparent electrodes due to
their relatively low conductivity and poor electrical stability when exposed
to high temperatures, humidity, or UV light. Thus, external conductive
fillers are added to the conductive polymers to overcome this issue.
2.3. Factors affecting electrical conductivity and optical transparency of
ECTPCs
Electrical conductivity and optical transmittance are the main fea­
tures of the ECTPCs, thus the factors affecting these parameters affect
the overall performance of the ECTPCs. Some of these factors include
preparation methods (solution casting, melt blending, spin coating, etc),
type of fillers used (ITO, metal-based, carbon-based, etc.), the
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concentration of fillers, size, and morphology of the filler particles used
(micro-sized particles, nano-sized particles, etc. and spherical, cylin­
drical, etc.), type of substrate used (glass, PMMA, PC, etc.), degree of
polymer crystallization, etc.[66]. Apart from these, the agglomeration of
the fillers in the matrix also affects the transparency and the conduc­
tivity of the ECTPCs. Understanding and optimizing these factors are
crucial for designing and fabricating electrically conductive transparent
composites with the desired electrical and optical properties. Therefore,
the careful selection of the above parameters is very important while
considering the fabrication, cost, and application of the ECTPCs.
3. Applications of electrically conductive transparent polymer
composites (ECTPCs)
The addition of electrically conductive fillers in the transparent
polymers imparts electrical conductivity in the transparent polymers.
There is a growing demand for ECTPCs due to their various attractive
applications in optoelectronic devices such as touch panels, display
devices, solar cells, and biomedical sensors [67–71]. In the present
market, ITO-based ECTPCs are dominating, however, due to their lim­
itations, metal-based fillers and carbon-based fillers are attracting the
attention of researchers and the industry. Therefore, extensive research
has been carried out across global academics, research organizations,
and industries to develop advanced ECTPCs. The main applications of
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
Fig. 7. (a) Flexible Solar cell (b) Current-voltage characteristics [83]. Reprinted with permission from the American Chemical Society.
the ECTPCs are discussed in this section.
3.1. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) devices
ECTPCs are usually used in OPV applications due to their larger
spectral response which promotes the execution of solar light in a wider
wavelength range as compared to ITO-based electrodes [72]. In addition
to this, the brittle ITO films have limitations for future and flexible OPV
devices. The performance of OPV relies heavily on the transparent
electrode’s capability to enable the transmission of photons into the cells
while facilitating the flow of electrical current with minimal resistance.
Gaynor et al. [73] conducted a study comparing the performance of a
silver nanowire composite electrode to an indium tin oxide (ITO) stan­
dard electrode. The authors reported that the use of the silver nanowire
composite electrode resulted in an approximate 10% increase in con­
version efficiency. In addition to this, organic OPV, based on AgNWs
[74–76], Cu nanofiber [77] Graphene [78–80], and CNTs [81,82] have
been reported in the literature and their advantages over conventional
ITO based solar cells is demonstrated as fabrication of flexible solar cells
[83] as shown in Fig. 7.
3.2. Organic light‑emitting diodes (OLED) devices
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels are widely recognized as
crucial components of next-generation displays due to their low power
consumption, exceptional color gamut, wide viewing angle, fast
response time, and design flexibility [84]. The efficiency and brightness
of ITOs based OLEDs can be significantly reduced when subjected to
mechanical stress, primarily due to the fracture of indium tin oxide
(ITO) layers. This damage to the ITO layer disrupts the electrical con­
ductivity and light transmission, leading to decreased OLED perfor­
mance [85,86]. Thus, metal and carbon-based nanofillers have been
investigated as the potential replacement of the ITOs [87–89]. Kwon
et al. [90] developed metal-containing flexible TCF for OLEDs, consist­
ing of Al2O3 films with a 15-nm-thick Ag thin film, demonstrated good
mechanical reliability even under bending strain, and maintained high
transmittance. Triambulo et al. [91] evaluated the performance stability
of the solution-processed flexible OLEDs on transparent polyimide
substrate by using AGNWs. The fabricated OLEDs showed excellent
bending stability as compared to conventional ITO-based OLEDs. Mar­
tínez-Sarti et al. [92] fabricated light-emitting electrochemical cells
using SWCNTs-based TCF anode. The TCF was fabricated by integrated
aerosol method and dry transferred to polymer substrate as shown in
Fig. 8. Jiang et al. [92] fabricated a soft OLED by using the isolated
network of SWCNTs which was prepared by an injection floating catalyst
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chemical vapor deposition method. The fabricated OLED reports sheet
resistance of 41 Ω/sq at 90% transmittance. The fabricated OLED pro­
vides an intense and consistent green luminescence.
3.3. Transparent conducting heaters
Along with good electrical conductivity, carbon-based nanofillers
[93,94] and metal-based fillers [95,96] also exhibit good thermal con­
ductivity. Thus, ECTPCs based on these materials attract significant
attention from researchers for potential application in transparent con­
ducting heaters [97]. One of the earliest applications of electrically
conductive transparent polymer composites (ECTPCs) was in defrosting
windows in airplanes, enabling safe flight at high altitudes [98].
Transparent devices for such applications are fabricated using trans­
parent conducting oxides like ITOs, however, such materials have some
mechanical constraints as discussed above. Thus metal-based and
carbon-based fillers are nowadays used for the fabrication of transparent
heaters. Yoon et al. [99] fabricate a transparent film heater utilizing
single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The resulting film had a
transmittance of 79% and a sheet resistance (RS) value of 580 Ω/sq,
making it suitable for transparent heating applications. The researchers
also investigated the inverse relationship between the steady-state
temperature and the resistance of the SWNT film. Celle et al. [100]
fabricated a transparent heater using silver nanowires (Ag NWs) as the
conductive material. The transparent heater indicated a sheet resistance
(RS) of 33 Ω/sq and an optical transmittance of approximately 90%. The
researchers successfully demonstrated joule heating through the ho­
mogeneously distributed AgNWs in the transparent film. Park et al.
[101] fabricated a ternary composite of AgNW, PEDOT:PSS, and ITO-
based transparent film heaters (TFHs) heating applications. The fabri­
cated TFHs report high optical transparency of 95% at 550 nm wave­
length. The fabricated heaters also showed improved thermal resistance
with the highest temperature of 110˚C and homogenous temperature
distribution. To analyze the operational stability of the TFHs cyclic
heating and cooling tests we conducted and it was observed that the
TFHs exhibit good response time, operational stability, and repeatability
as shown in Fig. 9(a). Also, environmental stability is tested by operating
the TFH soaked in deionized water in a plastic Petri dish as shown in
Fig. 9(b), and it was found that the stable operation in water maintained
for more than 3000 s.
3.4. Sensing panels
Sensing panels or touch panels have become the primary interface
between humans and machines, and are frequently employed in a
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
Fig. 8. (a) Schematics of the flexible device layout and an SEM image of CNT films (b) Global luminance versus time [92]. Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
Fig. 9. (a) Heating temperature response to the cyclic heating and cooling test (b) IR images of temperature of the flexible TFH at 7 V over time[101]. No reprint
permission required under open access license.
variety of optoelectronic devices such as smartphones, tablet computers,
digital cameras, and more [102,103]. Along with electrical conductivity,
high transmittance, and high mechanical durability is also a very crucial
factor for touch panels. AgNWs-based touch panels fulfill the above
requirement of the touch screens as demonstrated by Layani et al. [104]
and Kogut et al. [105]. Son et al. [106] fabricated highly transparent
single-layer touch sensors based on silver nanowire networks using
laser-assisted fabrication on a polymeric substrate film. The fabricated
tough sensors successfully demonstrated multipoint touch detection and
also bending test as demonstrated in the Fig. 10. The popularity of
nanowires-based sensing panels is due to the strength of the nanowires
networks over brittle conducting oxides-based TCFs. The rapid devel­
opment in technology resulted in the development of CNT-based TCFs,
which also found uses in sensing panels [107–109].
4. Conclusions
Electrically conductive transparent polymer composites (ECTPCs)
became known as a promising material class with numerous
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applications. The factors affecting the electrical conductivity and optical
transmittance of ECTPCs have been highlighted in this review paper.
ECTPCs based on carbon and metal-based conductive fillers like AgNWs,
CuNws, CNTs, and Graphene has been undergone tremendous de­
velopments. These ECTPCs are potential replacements for the ITO-based
conductors due to their superior mechanical properties over brittle
TCOs-based transparent conductors. The current review article ad­
dresses the role of these conductive fillers in increasing electrical con­
ductivity while retaining optical transparency while taking the different
fabrication methods into consideration. Furthermore, the review
investigated the various applications of ECTPCs including solar cells,
touch panels, conducting heaters, OLEDs, and many more. The Distinct
combination of electrical conductivity and optical transparency allows
ECTPCs to be integrated into a variety of technologies, bringing up new
opportunities for novel and sophisticated applications. These ECTPCs
have gained so much attention due to their low cost, good transmittance,
and high mechanical durability. However, the fabrication processes of
AgNWs-based ECTPCs are associated with high costs due to the high cost
of silver and the oxidation tendency of the copper leads to the color
A. Kumar and N. Kumar
Fig. 10. (a) Writing arbitrary letters, (b) Multipoint detection, (c) Test of detection accuracy and directionality, (d) Bending test for the tough sensor as a function of
bending distance (e) Peeling test[106]. No reprint permission required under open access license.
impartations in Cu-based ECTPCs. Also, the higher aspect ratio graphene
leads to poor conductivity and poor transmittance, and the complexity
associated with CNTs fabrication also limits their potential. However,
nowadays many researchers are putting their efforts to overcome these
issues to unlock the full potential of ECTPCs based on these materials.
Many successful efforts had been made so far to develop functional parts
from ECTPCs, however, there are still some limitations regarding the
manufacturing of complex parts. Manufacturing wonders can be
accomplished when the characteristics of these ECTPCs are combined
with cutting-edge production techniques like additive manufacturing.
Overall, this review study offers insightful information about the
achievements, challenges, and potential of electrically conductive
transparent polymer composites. It highlights the significance of
knowing the parameters that influence electrical conductivity and op­
tical transparency, as well as the various applications that can benefit
from the unique features of ECTPCs.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Atish Kumar: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Investigation,
Conceptualization. Narendra Kumar: Conceptualization, Writing – re­
view & editing.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
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Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
the work reported in this paper.
Data availability
No data was used for the research described in the article.
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