Reverse offset printing of transparent metal mesh electrodes using an imprinted disposable cliché

Abstract

The cliches used in reverse offset printing are typically fabricated using photolithography and etching processes applied to a Si wafer or glass substrate. Because those fabrication processes make cliches cost high, they are cleaned and reused in repeated printing processes. The cleaning process tends to reduce the quality and throughput of reverse offset printing techniques. This paper describes reverse offset printing using a noble disposable cliche. Disposable cliches may be used once or a few times, and then they may be discarded. They are fabricated by imprinting methods applied to an ultraviolet curable resin on a flexible plastic film. The high adhesion of the plastic film facilitates patterning on the disposable cliches and yields patterns similar to those achieved using hard cliches. The disposable cliches and roll-to-plate reverse offset printing methods were used to fabricate highly transparent conductive electrodes consisting of metal meshes with a linewidth of 3.6 µm. The transmittance of the metal mesh electrodes was 98% and the sheet resistance was 80 Ω/□.