Highly conductive copper nano/microparticles ink via flash light sintering for printed electronics

Nanotechnology. 2014 Jul 4;25(26):265601. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/26/265601. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

In this study, the size effect of copper particles on the flash light sintering of copper (Cu) ink was investigated using Cu nanoparticles (20-50 nm diameter) and microparticles (2 μm diameter). Also, the mixed Cu nano-/micro-inks were fabricated, and the synergetic effects between the Cu nano-ink and micro-ink on flash light sintering were assessed. The ratio of nanoparticles to microparticles in Cu ink and the several flash light irradiation conditions (irradiation energy density, pulse number, on-time, and off-time) were optimized to obtain high conductivity of Cu films. In order to precisely monitor the milliseconds-long flash light sintering process, in situ monitoring of electrical resistance and temperature changes of Cu films was conducted during the flash light irradiation using a real-time Wheatstone bridge electrical circuit, thermocouple-based circuit, and a high-rate data acquisition system. Also, several microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the flash light sintered Cu nano-/micro-films. In addition, the sheet resistance of Cu film was measured using a four-point probe method. This work revealed that the optimal ratio of nanoparticles to microparticles is 50:50 wt%, and the optimally fabricated and flash light sintered Cu nano-/micro-ink films have the lowest resistivity (80 μΩ cm) among nano-ink, micro-ink, or nano-micro mixed films.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't