Silver nanoparticle ink technology: state of the art

Abstract

Printed electronics will bring to the consumer level great breakthroughs and unique products in the near future, shifting the usual paradigm of electronic devices and circuit boards from hard boxes and rigid sheets into flexible thin layers and bringing disposable electronics, smart tags, and so on. The most promising tool to achieve the target depends upon the availability of nanotechnology-based functional inks. A certain delay in the innovation-transfer process to the market is now being observed. Nevertheless, the most widely diffused product, settled technology, and the highest sales volumes are related to the silver nanoparticle-based ink market, representing the best example of commercial nanotechnology today. This is a compact review on synthesis routes, main properties, and practical applications.

Colorimetric Detection Based on Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance Optical Characteristics for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Acacia Gum–Stabilised Silver Nanoparticles

“…35–37 The reduction was performed under a sonication bath or stirrer using non-toxic and environmentally friendly reducing reagent, namely, white sugar, which was responsible for the reduction of silver ions (Ag + ) to colloidal SNPs (Ag o ), and a non-toxic capping agent, namely, Acacia gum, for size stabilisation of the nanoparticles and to avoid their agglomeration, sedimentation, or loss of surface properties. 38 Moreover, NaOH solution was added to fabricate uniform size and shaped nanoparticles.…”

Recent Advancements in Liquid Metal Flexible Printed Electronics: Properties, Technologies, and Applications

“…Generally, traditional nanoparticle-based conductive ink does not have intrinsic conductivity, and needs special post-processing (e.g., sintering, annealing) to remove solvent from the conductive ink to achieve conductive capacity, such as silver nanoparticle, PEDOT:PSS, polyaniline-based ink, nickel and copper conductive ink [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. The newly emerging liquid metal ink has intrinsically high conductivity, which enables it to be a kind of ideal conductive ink ( Table 1 ).…”

Sensitivity enhancement of flexible gas sensors via conversion of inkjet-printed silver electrodes into porous gold counterparts

“…It is worth mentioning that Ag is the best conductor of heat and electricity 8 and silver nanoparticle (SNP)-based inks represent the most important commercial nanotechnology-derived product and are the most commonly used, most widely studied and with a well-settled technology. SNP inks also have the highest sales volume among all metallic inks 9 . However, Ag, especially nanoparticle Ag, is the metal which most readily tarnishes even under dry and ambient conditions, due to the presence of pollutants like hydrogen sulphide and carbonyl sulphide in air 10 , 11 , which leads to the significant reduction of its conductivity 12 .…”