Superwetting-Induced Transfer of AgNWs/PDMS/IL onto the Emissive Layer for Fabrication of a Three-Layered Flexible Electroluminescent Device

The emergence of flexible electroluminescent (EL) devices has demonstrated significant potential in wearable technology, lighting, and biointegrated electronics, driving the need for efficient and cost-effective fabrication methods. However, the conventional multistep processes for creating five-layer flexible EL devices are often laborious and costly. In this work, we address these challenges by introducing a one-step transfer method for fabricating a three-layered flexible EL device. This innovative approach harnesses superwettability-induced transfer of silver nanowires (AgNWs), ionic liquid (i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium(bis-trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide, [EMIm]NTf2), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) onto the luminescent layer. The ionic liquid, [EMIm]NTf2, serves to locally organize the AgNWs, while the PDMS acts as a protective layer. This method not only streamlines the fabrication process but also enhances material utilization and enables the creation of continuous luminous patterns, thereby presenting a highly promising solution for rapid prototyping and customization in flexible EL device manufacturing.