Ink-jet Printing and Microwave Sintering of Conductive Silver Tracks

Perelaer, Jolke; de Gans, Berend-Jan; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

Printing techniques, such as ink-jet printing, are interesting alternatives to conventional photolithography for the production of electronic devices. The advantages of printing include the ease of mass production, low cost, and flexibility. Compared to other printing techniques (e.g., screen printing), ink-jet printing does not offer the same production speed. However, the unprecedented flexibility of ink-jet printing makes it very well suited for rapid prototyping applications. In addition, it allows the use of inviscid fluids, such as dilute polymer solutions or suspensions without added binders. A typical application involves the ink-jet printing of conductive tracks, for example, by using inks based on (in)organic silver or copper precursors. The precursor is reduced to the corresponding metal via a post-printing thermal annealing step. In most cases, however, the ink is a dispersion of noble-metal nanoparticles, usually silver[4] or gold. A sintering step is necessary to render the tracks conductive. The use of nanoparticles reduces the sintering temperature due to their high surface to volume ratio.

Year:

2006

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Advanced Materials

Volume:

18

Pages:

2101 - 2104