Silver Ion Carboxylate Complexes for Room-Temperature Conductive Films
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating electrically-conductive silver in electronic devices are time-consuming and expensive, particularly when using silver nanoparticle-based inks, which require high-temperature sintering incompatible with polymer substrates and involve complex printing processes, and existing chemical ink formulations have stability and compatibility issues with polymeric substrates.
Innovation Solution
Development of non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complexes comprising reducible silver ions complexed with α-oxy carboxylates and primary alkylamines, which can be rapidly converted to metallic silver at room temperature using actinic radiation, enabling flexible substrate compatibility and various deposition techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silver nanoparticle-based inks are used to generate electrically-conductive silver, then high electrical conductivity is achieved, but high-temperature sintering is required which is incompatible with polymer substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical state of silver from nanoparticle form to complexed ionic form (Ag+ coordinated with carboxylate and amine ligands), enabling reduction at room temperature instead of high-temperature sintering. This parameter change in silver's chemical form resolves the contradiction between achieving electrical conductivity and avoiding high temperatures that would damage polymer substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical sintering process with a photochemical reduction process. Instead of using heat to sinter nanoparticle aggregates, the invention uses actinic radiation to photoreduce complexed silver ions to metallic silver, eliminating the need for high-temperature processing while maintaining electrical conductivity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional chemical ink formulations are used, then printing process is simplified, but stability and compatibility issues with polymeric substrates occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite chemical system consisting of silver ions coordinated with specific organic ligands (carboxylate and amine). This composite formulation provides both stability in the ink formulation and compatibility with polymeric substrates, while maintaining the ability to reduce to conductive silver upon photoirradiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The complexed silver ion acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the ink formulation and the desired metallic silver product. The complexed Ag+ species remains stable in the ink but can be readily reduced to Ag0 upon photoexcitation, providing both stability during storage and reactivity during processing.
3Reliability
If silver nanoparticle-based inks are used, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming thermal sintering processes with rapid photochemical reduction. The photoreduction of complexed silver ions occurs instantly upon exposure to actinic radiation, eliminating the lengthy heating and cooling cycles required for sintering nanoparticle inks, thus dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic actinic irradiation to trigger rapid reduction of silver complexes. By using intermittent light exposure rather than continuous heating, the process achieves quick transformation of silver complexes to metallic silver, reducing overall processing time while maintaining product quality.
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 solution allows for rapid, room-temperature generation of electrically-conductive silver with improved stability and flexibility in substrate choice, reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying the printing process while maintaining high electrical conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
When present, the photosensitizer upon absorption of actinic radiation, decomposes the non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex to form electrically-conductive metallic silver
Data Source
AI summary
A non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex has a reducible silver ion complexed with an α-oxy carboxylate and a primary alkylamine. This non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex can be represented by the following formula (I):(Ag+)a(L)b(P)c (I)wherein L represents the α-oxy carboxylate; P represents the primary alkylamine; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2. Such complexes can be incorporated into photosensitive compositions that are then used to provide photosensitive thin films or photosensitive thin film patterns. The reducible silver ions can be quickly and efficiently reduced to electrically-conductive silver metal upon exposure to UV-visible radiation in various methods.