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Filler-nanocellulose substrate for printed electronics: experiments and model approach to structure and conductivity

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Abstract

Composites made of inorganic filler particles and cellulose nanofibres can be applied as substrates for printed electronics. We have studied the structural properties of these substrates both experimentally and with particle-level modeling approach. Our model describes the skeleton structure formed by pigment particles of varied shapes and size distributions. Nanocellulose is assumed to fill voids of the structure. The model simulations predict quite well the relative changes in measured density, porosity and roughness for kaolin and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) pigments. Measured roughness turns out to be higher for kaolin than for PCC. Yet, the measured conductivity of printed lines on kaolin surface is higher than the conductivity on the PCC surface. The simulations reveal a more open surface pore structure for PCC than for kaolin, which leads to stronger absorption of the silver ink, and thus explains the differences in the measured conductivities.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. John Husband from Imerys Minerals Ltd for his help on estimating the shape and size distribution of Intramax 60 filler, as well as Imerys Minerals Ltd and Specialty Minerals for providing the materials. Asko Sneck and Heli Nykänen from VTT are acknowledged for SEM-images and printed conductor lines measurements. This work is part of the Efficient Networking towards Novel Products and Processes project, funded by the Forestcluster Ltd., Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Antti Penttilä

  2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland

    Jenni Sievänen, Katariina Torvinen, Kimmo Ojanperä & Jukka A. Ketoja

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  1. Antti Penttilä
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  2. Jenni Sievänen
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  3. Katariina Torvinen
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  4. Kimmo Ojanperä
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  5. Jukka A. Ketoja
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Correspondence to Antti Penttilä.

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Penttilä, A., Sievänen, J., Torvinen, K. et al. Filler-nanocellulose substrate for printed electronics: experiments and model approach to structure and conductivity. Cellulose 20, 1413–1424 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9883-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9883-9

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