Flexible Organic Electronics Reinforced with Metallic Glass Electrodes with Prolonged Chemical and Mechanical Stability

Metallic glasses (MGs) are notable for their lack of grain boundaries, which are often the cause of severe mechanical failures and corrosion (as well as other chemical reactions). Recently, the use of MGs in thin films, produced through physical vapor deposition, has drawn attention from researchers aiming to replace traditional electrode materials with MG thin films. The electrical and mechanical properties of these films vary depending on their atomic composition, which encourage researches on MGs with different compositions. In this paper, we explore compelling examples of using MG thin films as electrodes in organic photovoltaic cells and sensors. Through comprehensive studies, we demonstrate that devices with improved stability and flexibility can be fabricated using MG thin films. Notably, the amorphous metallic surface in contact with polymers helps avoid oxidation reactions caused by exposure to air, thereby preventing the formation of insulating oxides and the resulting loss of electrical conductivity. Additionally, MG thin films exhibit excellent crack resistance in flexible and stretchable devices, leading to high durability and reliability in such applications.