We introduce a method for direct patterning of Ni electrodes through selective laser direct writing (LDW) of NiO nanoparticle (NP) ink. High-resolution Ni patterns are generated from NiO NP thin films by a vacuum-free, lithography-free, and solution-processable route. In particular, a continuous wave laser is used for the LDW reductive sintering of the metal oxide under ambient conditions with the aid of reducing agents in the ink solvent. Thin (∼ 40 nm) Ni electrodes of glossy metallic surfaces with smooth morphology and excellent edge definition can be fabricated. By applying this method, we demonstrate a high transmittance (>87%), electrically conducting panel for a touch screen panel application. The resistivity of the Ni electrode is less than an order of magnitude higher compared to that of the bulk Ni. Mechanical bending test, tape-pull test, and ultrasonic bath test confirm the robust adhesion of the electrodes on glass and polymer substrates.

Low-cost Cu flexible transparent conducting electrodes (FTCEs) are fabricated by facile nanosecond laser ablation. The fabricated Cu FTCEs show excellent opto-electrical properties (transmittance: 83%, sheet resistance: 17.48 Ω sq(-1)) with outstanding mechanical durability. Successful demonstration of a touch-screen panel confirms the potential applicability of Cu FTCEs to the flexible optoelectronic devices.

This work is concerned with the kinetics of laser-induced reductive sintering of nonstoichiometric crystalline nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) under ambient conditions. The mechanism of photophysical reductive sintering upon irradiation using a 514.5 nm continuous-wave (CW) laser on NiO NP thin films has been studied through modulating the laser power density and illumination time. Protons produced due to hightemperature decomposition of the solvent present in the NiO NP ink, oxygen vacancies in the NiO NPs, and electronic excitation in the NiO NPs by laser irradiation all affect the early stage of the reductive sintering process. Once NiO NPs are reduced by laser irradiation to Ni, they begin to coalesce, forming a conducting material. In situ optical and electrical measurements during the reductive sintering process take advantage of the distinct differences between the oxide and the metallic phases to monitor the transient evolution of the process. We observe four regimes: oxidation, reduction, sintering, and reoxidation. A characteristic time scale is assigned to each regime.

This work is concerned with the laser wavelength effect on the electrical properties and surface morphology of laser-sintered nanoparticle thin films. Silver nanoparticle thin films spin-coated on soda lime glass substrates were irradiated with lasers of three different wavelengths (near ultraviolet 405 nm, green 514.5 nm, near infrared 817 nm) at varied laser intensities and scanning speeds. Scanning electron microscopy images and ex situ resistivity measurements show that the photo-thermal sintering alters significantly the film surface morphology and electrical properties, depending on the processing parameters (laser wavelength, laser intensities and scanning speed). While the optical response of the material is determined largely by the processing laser wavelength, the laser beam intensity and scanning speed regulate the induced temperature field. Examination of the optical properties of as-deposited silver nanoparticle thin film in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy images taken from the laser-sintered lines helps elucidate how the processing laser wavelength modulates the optical response of silver nanoparticle thin film and therefore affects the thermal response.

Exploration of the electronics solely composed of bottom-up synthesized nanowires has been largely limited due to the complex multistep integration of diverse nanowires. We report a single-step, selective, direct, and on-demand laser synthesis of a hierarchical heterogeneous nanowire-on-nanowire structure (secondary nanowire on the primary backbone nanowire) without using any conventional photolithography or vacuum deposition. The highly confined temperature rise by laser irradiation on the primary backbone metallic nanowire generates a highly localized nanoscale temperature field and photothermal reaction to selectively grow secondary branch nanowires along the backbone nanowire. As a proof-of-concept for an all-nanowire electronics demonstration, an all-nanowire UV sensor was successfully fabricated without using conventional fabrication processes.