Large area defrosting windows based on electrothermal heating of highly conducting and transmitting Ag wire mesh

Abstract

Highly interconnected crackles were obtained by spreading commercially available low cost crackle wall paint based precursor by the drop coating technique. An interconnected Ag mesh was fabricated by depositing metal over the crackle network followed by the removal of the template. The metal network is well conducting (1 Ω ^□−1) with transmittance of ∼77% over the fabricated area, 18 × 15 cm². By joule heating using few volts, uniform temperatures up to 170 °C were achieved on the electrode area and a high thermal resistance of 255.2 °C cm² W⁻¹ was obtained. The electrode was tested for defrosting application by exposing it to liquid nitrogen (LN₂) vapors at ∼−60 °C while applying 8.5 V for 2 min, when the frost disappeared making the display board below, visible. The transparent heater could successfully withstand an ultrasonication test, as well as many defrosting cycles.