Ag-BST Nanoparticle Ink for Precision RF Conductive Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printable inks for electronic devices often require multiple types and incompatible curing/sintering procedures, making it challenging to achieve precise conductive/resistive features, especially for applications in RF and MW frequencies, and are limited by viscosity and surface energy constraints.
Innovation Solution
A novel silver-barium strontium titanate (Ag-BST) composite nanoparticle ink that transitions from an insulating to a conductive phase through selective laser sintering, allowing for the creation of conductive paths in ambient conditions, optimizing the ratio of conductive to non-conductive nanoparticles for stable resistance and precision printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional printable inks are used for electronic devices, then multiple types and incompatible curing/sintering procedures are required, but manufacturing precision and process complexity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional inks (conductive and resistive) into a single printable composition containing metal nanoparticles, glass particles, and organic binder. This unified composition eliminates the need for multiple separate curing and sintering procedures, allowing both conductive and resistive features to be fabricated in one printing and heating process, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The printable composition is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both conductive and resistive properties, adheres to substrates, and forms complex 3D electronic structures. The single composition can be used for various electronic device components, eliminating the need for multiple specialized inks and procedures
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional inks are used for RF and MW frequency applications, then conductive/resistive features can be printed, but precise control over electrical properties is limited due to viscosity and surface energy constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls and optimizes parameters of the printable composition including particle size distribution (metal and glass nanoparticles), viscosity, and surface energy. By adjusting these parameters, the ink achieves optimal printability across different printing methods while maintaining precise control over the electrical properties of the resulting conductive and resistive features for RF and MW applications
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ink types are used for electronic device fabrication, then different functional features can be created, but the number of processing steps and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional capabilities into a single printable composition that can form both conductive and resistive features. This eliminates the need for sequential printing of different inks and multiple curing cycles, reducing processing time while maintaining the ability to create diverse functional electronic features in a single integrated process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The Ag-BST ink enables precise control over resistivity and conductivity, maintaining stability across a wide temperature range and enabling the fabrication of complex electronic components with consistent performance, addressing the limitations of existing inks in additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
A novel silver-barium strontium titanate (Ag-BST) composite nanoparticle ink that transitions from an insulating to a conductive phase through selective laser sintering
Implementation Method 2
application of heat to the cured dielectric material transforms the dielectric material into an electrically conductive path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This disclosure describes manufacture of a mixture and use of same to fabricate different types of electronic components. In one configuration, the mixture includes: first particles, the first particles being an insulator material; second particles, the second particles being electrically conductive metal material; and a combination of the first particles and the second particles suspended in a printable liquid medium, the printable liquid/solid medium (slurry) being curable into a dielectric layer of material. According to one configuration, the printable material is disposed and cured on a substrate. The first particles and second particles are randomly distributed in the cured printed material (dielectric material). The second particles in the cured dielectric material are transformable into one or more electrically conductive paths, electronic components, etc., via application of heat above a threshold value. Thus, a dielectric (insulator) material can be transformed into an electrically conductive path via application of heat.