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Inkjet catalyst printing and electroless copper deposition for low-cost patterned microwave passive devices on paper

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Abstract

A scalable, low-cost process for fabricating copper-based microwave components on flexible, paper-based substrates is demonstrated. An inkjet printer is used to deposit a catalyst-bearing solution (tailored for such printing) in a desired pattern on commercially-available, recyclable, non-toxic (Teslin®) paper. The catalystbearing paper is then immersed in an aqueous copper-bearing solution to allow for electroless deposition of a compact and conformal layer of copper in the inkjet-derived pattern. Meander monopole antennas comprised of such electroless-deposited copper patterns on paper exhibited comparable performance as for antennas synthesized via inkjet printing of a commercially-available silver nanoparticle ink. However, the solution-based patterning and electroless copper deposition process avoids nozzle-clogging problems and costs associated with noble metal particle-based inks. This process yields compact conductive copper layers without appreciable oxidation and without the need for an elevated temperature, post-deposition thermal treatment commonly required for noble metal particle-based ink processes. This low-cost copper patterning process is readily scalable on virtually any substrate and may be used to generate a variety of copper-based microwave devices on flexible, paper-based substrates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0250, USA

    Benjamin S. Cook, Sangkil Kim, Taoran Le & Manos M. Tentzeris

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA

    Yunnan Fang, W. Brandon Goodwin & Kenneth H. Sandhage

  3. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0400, USA

    Kenneth H. Sandhage

Authors
  1. Benjamin S. Cook
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  2. Yunnan Fang
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  3. Sangkil Kim
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  4. Taoran Le
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  5. W. Brandon Goodwin
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  6. Kenneth H. Sandhage
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  7. Manos M. Tentzeris
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kenneth H. Sandhage or Manos M. Tentzeris.

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These two authors contributed equally to this work.

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Cook, B.S., Fang, Y., Kim, S. et al. Inkjet catalyst printing and electroless copper deposition for low-cost patterned microwave passive devices on paper. Electron. Mater. Lett. 9, 669–676 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-013-3027-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13391-013-3027-0

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