PHOTO-CURING PROCESS FOR METALLIC INKS

• US 20090311440A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Nanotech, Inc. (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings Incorporated (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaniv, Zvi, Fink, Richard Lee, Yang, Mohshi, Li, Yunjun, Pavlovsky, Igor, Roundhill, David Max
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/553
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0257 Nanoparticles inks comprising nanoparticles H05K1/097
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/107 Using laser light shaping a substrate by laser ablation H05K3/0026
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1131 Sintering, i.e. fusing of metal particles to achieve or improve electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1283 After-treatment of the printed patterns, e.g. sintering or curing methods

Abstract

A solution of metal ink is mixed and then printed or dispensed onto the substrate using the dispenser. The film then is dried to eliminate water or solvents. In some cases, a thermal curing step can be introduced subsequent to dispensing the film and prior to the photo-curing step. The substrate and deposited film can be cured using an oven or by placing the substrate on the surface of a heater, such as a hot plate. Following the drying and/or thermal curing step, a laser beam or focused light from the light source is directed onto the surface of the film in a process known as direct writing. The light serves to photo-cure the film such that it has low resistivity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

depositing a pattern of conductive ink comprising clusters of conductive nanoparticles; and

photosintering the conductive ink.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying the conductive ink between the depositing and photosintering steps.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the drying is performed in a vacuum chamber.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the drying is performed by an artificial infrared heater.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the drying is performed with microwave energy.