Synthesis of monodisperse silver nanoparticles for ink-jet printed flexible electronics

Abstract

In this study, monodisperse silver nanoparticles were synthesized with anew reduction system consisting of adipoyl hydrazide and dextrose atambient temperature. By this facile and rapid approach, high concentrationmonodisperse silver nanoparticles were obtained on a large scale at lowprotectant/AgNO3 mass ratio which was highly beneficial to low cost and high conductivity. Based on thesynthesized monodisperse silver nanoparticles, conductive inks were prepared with water,ethanol and ethylene glycol as solvents, and were expected to be more environmentallyfriendly. A series of electrocircuits were fabricated by ink-jet printing silver nanoparticle inkon paper substrate with a commercial printer, and they had low resistivity in the range of9.18 × 10 − 8–8.76 × 10 − 8 Ω m after thermaltreatment at 160 °C for 30 min, which was about five times that of bulk silver (1.586 × 10 − 8 Ω m). Moreover, a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna was fabricated by ink-jetprinting, and 6 m wireless identification was realized after an Alien higgs-3 chip wasmounted on the printed antenna by the flip-chip method. These flexible electrocircuitsproduced by ink-jet printing would have enormous potential for low cost electrodes andsensor devices.