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Ref: 06821
Mussel-Inspired Nano-Material
Fabrication of Highly Electrically Conducting Patterns via Inkjet Printing
Emerging flexible electronic devices have exhibited significant potential for a wide range of applications, such as sensors, solar cells, batteries, antennas, and displays.
About
The present invention provides inkjet printing of an aqueous suspension of synthesized mussel-inspired poly(dopamine) nanoparticles. Fine lines of printed nanoparticles have been deposited on both glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates by exploiting the coffee ring effect. Deposited particles were then used for site-selective silver/copper metallization via a simple electroless plating process at controlled temperature and plating time. The resulting narrow lines of silver exhibited a resistivity 10.0 times that of bulk silver, and the resulting narrow lines of copper exhibited a resistivity 6.5 times that of bulk copper. Lines on PET retained good electrical and adhesion performance even after many bending cycles. This technique satisfies general requirements of flexible electronics manufacturing – low temperature, low cost, small feature size and good electrical conductivity independent of substrate material.
Key Benefits
• Entire process is at low cost and low temperature with minimal environmental footprint • Achieved structure shows high electrical conductivity independent of substrate material • Process is transferrable to various material systems and conserves material