Scatter-limited conduction in printed platinum nanofilms

Abstract

It is demonstrated that thin platinum films may be deposited onto smooth glass substrates using a materials printer and a propriety organometallic ink. Under optimised printing and subsequent thermal curing conditions, excellent film adhesion to the substrates was achieved for thicknesses of about 15 nm. The resistivity of the optimised films is observed to be a factor of less than 3 higher than pure bulk platinum at 300 K and exhibits a slightly smaller associated thermal coefficient of resistance. The resistivity parameters are found to be insensitive to the gaseous measurement environment which suggests that intercalated carbon regions within the films following the curing process have been largely eliminated. An analysis of the resistivity data indicates that electronic conduction is consistent with enhanced boundary scattering at granular structures that are introduced during multi-pass printing. A minimum electron mean free path of ~ 18 nm is deduced from the measured film topography.The presented work will find application in biosensor and fuel cell technologies.

Potential of Printed Electrodes for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Toward Membrane Fouling Detection

“…have demonstrated the printing of platinum nanoparticle ink using inkjet printing and achieved an electrical resistivity of 2.5 × 10 −7 Ω m, which is ≈4 times higher than the bulk platinum. [ 179 ] However, there is no report on the printing of platinum electrochemical electrodes using platinum nanoparticle inks to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Instead, platinum nanoparticles are more commonly applied to screen‐printed carbon electrodes using electrochemical deposition to enhance the detection of peroxide.…”