Abstract
Silver nanocolloid, a dense suspension of ligand-encapsulated silver nanoparticles, is an important material for printing-based device production technologies. However, printed conductive patterns of sufficiently high quality and resolution for industrial products have not yet been achieved, as the use of conventional printing techniques is severely limiting. Here we report a printing technique to manufacture ultrafine conductive patterns utilizing the exclusive chemisorption phenomenon of weakly encapsulated silver nanoparticles on a photoactivated surface. The process includes masked irradiation of vacuum ultraviolet light on an amorphous perfluorinated polymer layer to photoactivate the surface with pendant carboxylate groups, and subsequent coating of alkylamine-encapsulated silver nanocolloids, which causes amine–carboxylate conversion to trigger the spontaneous formation of a self-fused solid silver layer. The technique can produce silver patterns of submicron fineness adhered strongly to substrates, thus enabling manufacture of flexible transparent conductive sheets. This printing technique could replace conventional vacuum- and photolithography-based device processing.
Highlights
Silver nanocolloid, a dense suspension of ligand-encapsulated silver nanoparticles, is an important material for printing-based device production technologies
The polymer surface was exposed to the alkylamine-encapsulated silver nanometal ink (40– 60 wt% dispersed in a 4:1 mixed solvent of n-octane and nbutanol) by blade coating under ambient conditions
Based on all the observations above, we propose that when the alkylamine-encapsulated fluidic silver nanometal ink contacts the irradiated polymer surface with pendant carboxylate groups, it promotes the amine–carboxylate conversion for encapsulated AgNPs that triggers the spontaneous formation of a self-fused solid silver layer
Summary
A dense suspension of ligand-encapsulated silver nanoparticles, is an important material for printing-based device production technologies. We report an innovative printing principle to manufacture ultrafine conductive patterns through an exclusive chemisorption (that is, surface chemical reaction) of AgNPs that triggers the self-aggregating ability of AgNPs on predefined photoactivated areas of a solid surface For this purpose, we utilize a stable, concentrated and low-viscosity silver nanocolloid composed of AgNPs encapsulated in alkylamine layers[19]. When the alkylamine-encapsulated fluidic silver nanometal ink contacts the photoactivated surface, self-fused solid silver layers form spontaneously and exclusively on the photoactivated surface under ambient conditions This unique AgNP-based phenomenon enables the extremely simple printing of large-area electronic circuits with submicron resolution adhered strongly to flexible plastic substrates
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
