Scalable Fabrication of Flexible Transparent Heaters Comprising Continuously Created Metallic Micromesh Patterns Incorporated with Biomimetic Anti-Reflection Layers

Abstract

We present the scalable fabrication of a novel transparent heater (TH) architecture by continuously creating metallic micromesh patterns on a flexible substrate via Photo Roll Lithography (PRL). The optimal TH structure is explored by systematically investigating the heating and transmittance characteristics depending on the metal material, thickness, and micromesh dimension. The transmittance is further enhanced by incorporating the biomimetic moth-eye anti-reflection layer (ARC) which effectively reduces the reflection along with diffiraction and scattering of incident light. The fabricated ARC-integrated TH exhibits an excellent transmittance with satisfactory heating up to 47.5(omicron)C at the applied current of 0.6 A, which demonstrates ten times more power-efficient than conventional macroscale wire defrosters used in most vehicles. Successful defrosting of both planar and curved large-area surfaces is visually demonstrated by attaching the 70 x 70 mm-sized THs fabricated on a glass or flexible polymer. This versatile, high throughput TH architecturing may be applicable to many other devices requiring flexibility, scalability, and power-efficient operation, and their commercially-feasible production.