title: Impact of humidity on functionality of on-paper printed electronics.
abstract: A multilayer coated paper substrate, combining barrier and printability properties was manufactured utilizing a pilot-scale slide curtain coating technique. The coating structure consists of a thin mineral pigment layer coated on top of a barrier layer. The surface properties, i.e. smoothness and surface porosity, were adjusted by the choice of calendering parameters. The influence of surface properties on the fine line printability and conductivity of inkjet-printed silver lines was studied. Surface roughness played a significant role when printing narrow lines, increasing the risk of defects and discontinuities, whereas for wider lines the influence of surface roughness was less critical. A smooth, calendered surface resulted in finer line definition, i.e. less edge raggedness. Dimensional stability and its influence on substrate surface properties as well as on the functionality of conductive tracks and transistors were studied by exposure to high/low humidity cycles. The barrier layer of the multilayer coated paper reduced the dimensional changes and surface roughness increase caused by humidity and helped maintain the conductivity of the printed tracks. Functionality of a printed transistor during a short, one hour humidity cycle was maintained, but a longer exposure to humidity destroyed the non-encapsulated transistor.
authors: Center for Functional Materials, Turku, Finland. Paper Coating and Converting, Department of Chemical Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Bollström
authors: Fredrik
authors: F
authors: Pettersson
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Dolietis
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Preston
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Osterbacka
authors: Martti
authors: M
authors: Toivakka