Fast sintering of silver nanoparticle and flake layers by infrared module assistance in large area roll-to-roll gravure printing system

Abstract

We present fast sintering for silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) and flake layers printed using roll-to-roll (R2R) gravure printing. An infrared (IR) sintering module was applied to an R2R system to shorten the sintering duration of an R2R gravure-printed Ag layer. IR sintering of the conductive layer was improved by optimising the process condition. After printing of the Ag NP and Ag flake layers, additional IR sintering was performed in the R2R system. The lowest sheet resistance obtained in the Ag NP layer was 0.294 Ω/□, the distance between the substrate and lamp was 50-mm long, the IR lamp power was 500 W, and the sintering time was 5.4 s. The fastest sintering of 0.34 Ω/□ was achieved with 50-mm distance, 1,000-W IR lamp power, and 1.08-s sintering time. In the Ag flake layer, the lowest sheet resistance obtained was 0.288 Ω/□ with a 20-mm distance, 1,000-W IR lamp power, and 10.8-s sintering time. Meanwhile, the fastest sintering was obtained with a 3.83 Ω/□ sheet resistance, 20-mm distance, 1000-W IR lamp, and 1.08-s sintering time. Thus, the IR sintering module can easily be employed in an R2R system to obtain excellent layer sheet resistance.

Inkjet-Printing of Nanoparticle Gold and Silver Ink on Cyclic Olefin Copolymer for DNA-Sensing Applications

“…Dependent on the sintering parameters, inkjet-printing can result in more or less porous metal structures [38,39]. Apart from few exceptions [40], pores are not desired, since dense structures are typically more stable and conductive.…”

Photonic Curing of Low-Cost Aqueous Silver Flake Inks for Printed Conductors with Increased Yield

“…Park et al applied IR curing to flake silver inks, showing a reduction in sheet resistance, but this technique has a lower power density and a longer treatment time than visible-light photocuring. 29 Cui et al reported photonic curing of electrically conductive adhesives containing silver flakes. 30 Although in this work the authors' aim was to cross-link the polymers to form an adhesive bond, they did report the observation of a sintering effect on the silver flakes; however, it required the use of very high power densities, and the authors noted that the adhesion within the deposited layer was severely reduced.…”

“…Tam et al applied intense pulsed light sintering to a Cu ink with mixed nanoparticles and flakes; however, the main sintering effect was attributed to the nanoparticles. Park et al applied IR curing to flake silver inks, showing a reduction in sheet resistance, but this technique has a lower power density and a longer treatment time than visible-light photocuring . Cui et al reported photonic curing of electrically conductive adhesives containing silver flakes .…”

Bio-Inspired nacre-like nanolignocellulose-poly (vinyl alcohol)-TiO2 composite with superior mechanical and photocatalytic properties

“…Thus, mimicking the brick-and-mortar architecture of nacre by assembling different types of 2D platelets and polymer matrices is a viable approach for designing new materials. For nacre, the strategies used for producing its artificial counterparts can be categorized into three groups: the layer-by-layer technique 6 , the self-assembly technique 7 and the slurry-based freeze-casting 8 /magnetic-field-assisted slip-casting 9 and sintering technique 10 . To the best of our knowledge, no reports about the production of nacre-like NLC/inorganic nanoparticles composite by hot-pressing process.…”