Metal nano particle and method for manufacturing them and conductive ink

Abstract

A method of producing hydrophobic metal nanoparticles using a hydrophobic solvent, having uniform particle size distribution and high yield rate to allow mass production; the metal nanoparticles thus produced; and conductive ink including the metal nanoparticles are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a method of producing metal nanoparticles is provided, comprising dissociating a metal compound with an amine-based compound, and adding a hydrocarbon-based compound and either one of an alkanoic acid or a thiol-based compound to the dissociated metal ion solution.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-39013 filed on May 10, 2005 and Korean Patent Application No. 2005-55186 filed on Jun. 24, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated here by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates to a method of producing metal nanoparticles and the metal nanoparticles thus produced, and in particular, to a method of producing metal nanoparticles by the solution method. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] There are two major methods of producing metal nanoparticles, namely the vapor method and the solution method (colloid method). However, since the vapor method which uses plasma or gas evaporation requires highly expensive equipment, the solution method is generally used, which is more easily utilized in mass production. [0006] One existing method of producing metal nanoparticles by the solution method...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides a method of producing metal nanoparticles using a hydrophobic solvent, having uniform particle size distribution and high yield rate to allow mass production. Also, the present invention provides metal nanoparticles having alkanoate molecules or sulfur molecules, produced at a low cost by an integrated procedure, and provides conductive ink including the metal nanoparticles thus obtained.

Problems solved by technology

However, since the vapor method which uses plasma or gas evaporation requires highly expensive equipment, the solution method is generally used, which is more easily utilized in mass production.

However, the production of metal nanoparticles by such existing methods provides a very low yield rate, as it is limited by the concentration of the metal compound solution.

Thus, there is a limit also on the yield of metal nanoparticles, and to obtain metal nanoparticles of uniform size in quantities of several grams, 1000 liters or more of functional group are need.

This presents a limitation to efficient mass production.

Moreover, the phase transfer method necessarily requires a phase transfer, which is a cause of increased production costs.

Further, the production of metal nanoparticles having alkanoates as capping molecules using existing methods entails a complicated process, as it includes at least two or more steps.

The several steps thus needed for the production of metal nanoparticles can be a waste of time and effort.

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