All-inkjet-printed flexible electronics fabrication on a polymer substrate by low-temperaturehigh-resolution selective laser sintering of metal nanoparticles

Abstract

All-printed electronics is the key technology to ultra-low-cost, large-area electronics. As acritical step in this direction, we demonstrate that laser sintering of inkjet-printed metalnanoparticles enables low-temperature metal deposition as well as high-resolutionpatterning to overcome the resolution limitation of the current inkjet direct writingprocesses. To demonstrate this process combined with the implementation of air-stablecarboxylate-functionalized polythiophenes, high-resolution organic transistorswere fabricated in ambient pressure and room temperature without utilizing anyphotolithographic steps or requiring a vacuum deposition process. Local thermal control ofthe laser sintering process could minimize the heat-affected zone and the thermal damageto the substrate and further enhance the resolution of the process. This local nanoparticledeposition and energy coupling enable an environmentally friendly and cost-effectiveprocess as well as a low-temperature manufacturing sequence to realize large-area, flexibleelectronics on polymer substrates.