title: Silver conductive features on flexible substrates from a thermally accelerated chain reaction at low sintering temperatures.
abstract: In this study, a simple and effective silver ink formulation was developed to generate silver tracks with high electrical conductivity on flexible substrates at low sintering temperatures. Diethanolamine (DEA), a self-oxidizing compound at moderate temperatures, was mixed with a silver ammonia solution to form a clear and stable solution. After inkjet-printed or pen-written on plastic sheets, DEA in the silver ink decomposes at temperatures higher than 50 °C and generates formaldehyde, which reacts spontaneously with silver ammonia ions to form silver thin films. The electrical conductivity of the inkjet-printed silver films can be 26% of the bulk silver after heating at 75 °C for 20 min and show great adhesion on plastic sheets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Pin
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhen-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jeng-Lung
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liao