Hands-on Experiments for the Application of a Flexible, Conductive Nanomaterial Utilizing Silver-Nanopaste-Incorporated Tracks

Abstract

A series of hands-on experiments including the synthesis and application of flexible, conductive silver-nanopaste were designed to gain knowledge of conductive soft nanomaterial and the synthesis and the application of silver nanopaste (Ag nanopaste). The aim of this laboratory experiment is to provide undergraduate/graduate students an introduction to flexible, conductive electronics by the preparation of silver-nanopaste-incorporated tracks. For Ag-nanopaste-based electronics, the packability of silver nanoparticles and the sintering process are two major factors that dominate the conductivity of the device. In this experiment, ethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone were utilized to synthesize Ag nanopaste from AgNO3 via chemical reduction. The application of this flexible, conductive nanomaterial was demonstrated using Ag-nanopaste-incorporated tracks with a photonic sintering process. The process of photonic sintering is used in this experiment to reduce processing time. Prior to performing hands-on laboratory experiments, students learned about the properties, synthesis, and applications of flexible, conductive nanomaterials in class. A questionnaire was administered after the hands-on experiments to acquire student feedback on the course design. A simple quiz was also completed by the students before and after the hands-on experiments for evaluation.