An additive method for photopatterning of metals on flexible substrates

Abstract

Here we present an additive and cost effective process for plastic electronic manufacturing. Metal tracks are fabricated on polyimide substrates via simple chemical processes combined with direct laser writing or photomask exposure. Laser write speed up to 0.5 m•s^-1 and metal track linewidth as low as 5 μm were achieved. Further, this process was easily extended to 3D manufacturing; a helical silver track was written onto a cylindrical substrate. Selective electroless plating was also demonstrated on the photopatterned microstructures which showed promising conductivity close to that of bulk silver metal.