Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of Intense Pulsed Light Sintering Considering Dimensions of Printed Cu Nano/Micro-paste Patterns for Printed Electronics

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An intense pulsed light (IPL) was irradiated for the sintering of screen-printed copper (Cu) nano/micro-paste patterns on a polyimide substrate. The pattern widths and intervals affect the sintering behavior owing to the opto-thermal relationship during IPL irradiation. The temperature histories of the patterns during the IPL sintering process were predicted using a self-developed heat transfer simulation program. By comparing the experimental and simulation results, the tendency according to the size of the Cu pattern was confirmed. At the same IPL irradiation energy, the wider the pattern and the narrower the interval between the patterns, the higher the heat generated. To demonstrate the tendency, in situ resistance monitoring of the Cu patterns was conducted and their microscopic structures were investigated using a scanning electron microscope. Through the tendency of IPL sintering according to the widths and intervals of the Cu pattern, guidelines of IPL sintering process for electrodes with multi-size pattern were suggested: A dummy pattern was added between the existing digitizer patterns to achieve uniform sintering in all regions. When IPL sintering was conducted with the dummy patterns, the uniformly sintered line resistance could be obtained in entire areas of the digitizer pattern.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Comiskey, B., Albert, J. D., Yoshizawa, H., & Jacobson, J. (1998). An electrophoretic ink for all-printed reflective electronic displays. Nature, 394, 253.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Zyung, T., Kim, S. H., Chu, H. Y., Lee, J. H., Lim, S. C., Lee, J.-I., et al. (2005). Flexible organic LED and organic thin-film transistor. Proceedings of the IEEE, 93, 1265–1272.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kondo, Y., Tanabe, H., & Otake, T. (2010). Novel electrochromic polymer for electronic paper. IEICE Transactions on Electronics, 93, 1602–1606.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yang, Y., & Heeger, A. (1994). Polyaniline as a transparent electrode for polymer light-emitting diodes: Lower operating voltage and higher efficiency. Applied Physics Letters, 64, 1245–1247.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Haight, R. A., & Troutman, R. R. (1998). Optically transparent diffusion barrier and top electrode in organic light emitting diode structures, in, Google Patents.

  6. Leem, D. S., Edwards, A., Faist, M., Nelson, J., Bradley, D. D., & de Mello, J. C. (2011). Efficient organic solar cells with solution-processed silver nanowire electrodes. Advanced Materials, 23, 4371–4375.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zou, J., Yip, H.-L., Hau, S. K., & Jen, A. K.-Y. (2010). Metal grid/conducting polymer hybrid transparent electrode for inverted polymer solar cells. Applied Physics Letters, 96, 96.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Subramanian, V., Fréchet, J. M., Chang, P. C., Huang, D. C., Lee, J. B., Molesa, S. E., et al. (2005). Progress toward development of all-printed RFID tags: materials, processes, and devices. Proceedings of the IEEE, 93, 1330–1338.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bansal, R. (2003). Coming soon to a Wal-Mart near you. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 45, 105–106.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Jost, K., Stenger, D., Perez, C. R., McDonough, J. K., Lian, K., Gogotsi, Y., et al. (2013). Knitted and screen printed carbon-fiber supercapacitors for applications in wearable electronics. Energy and Environmental Science, 6, 2698–2705.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yeo, J., Kim, G., Hong, S., Kim, M. S., Kim, D., Lee, J., et al. (2014). Flexible supercapacitor fabrication by room temperature rapid laser processing of roll-to-roll printed metal nanoparticle ink for wearable electronics application. Journal of Power Sources, 246, 562–568.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hecht, D. S., Thomas, D., Hu, L., Ladous, C., Lam, T., Park, Y., et al. (2009). Carbon-nanotube film on plastic as transparent electrode for resistive touch screens. Journal of the Society for Information Display, 17, 941–946.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Madaria, A. R., Kumar, A., & Zhou, C. (2011). Large scale, highly conductive and patterned transparent films of silver nanowires on arbitrary substrates and their application in touch screens. Nanotechnology, 22, 245201.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Deng, D., Jin, Y., Cheng, Y., Qi, T., & Xiao, F. (2013). Copper nanoparticles: aqueous phase synthesis and conductive films fabrication at low sintering temperature. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 5, 3839–3846.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kang, H., Sowade, E., & Baumann, R. R. (2014). Direct intense pulsed light sintering of inkjet-printed copper oxide layers within six milliseconds. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 6, 1682–1687.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Greer, J. R., & Street, R. A. (2007). Thermal cure effects on electrical performance of nanoparticle silver inks. Acta Materialia, 55, 6345–6349.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yu, J. H., Rho, Y., Kang, H., Jung, H. S., & Kang, K.-T. (2015). Electrical behavior of laser-sintered Cu based metal-organic decomposition ink in air environment and application as current collectors in supercapacitor. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 2, 333–337.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Yu, J. H., Kang, K.-T., Hwang, J. Y., Lee, S.-H., & Kang, H. (2014). Rapid sintering of copper nano ink using a laser in air. International journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 15, 1051–1054.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Allabergenov, B., & Kim, S. (2013). Investigation of electrophysical and mechanical characteristics of porous copper-carbon composite materials prepared by spark plasma sintering. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 14, 1177–1183.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wünscher, S., Abbel, R., Perelaer, J., & Schubert, U. S. (2014). Progress of alternative sintering approaches of inkjet-printed metal inks and their application for manufacturing of flexible electronic devices. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2, 10232–10261.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ma, J., Diehl, J., Johnson, E., Martin, K., Miskovsky, N., Smith, C., et al. (2007). Systematic study of microwave absorption, heating, and microstructure evolution of porous copper powder metal compacts. Journal of Applied Physics, 101, 074906.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sung, K.-H., Park, J., & Kang, H. (2018). Multi-layer inkjet printing of Ag nanoparticle inks and its sintering with a near-infrared system. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 19, 303–307.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kinney, L. C., & Tompkins, E. H. (1969). Method of making printed circuits, in, U.S..

  24. Matsumoto, K., Sakoda, T., Nasu, M., & Ikeda, G. (2008). Film deposition method and film deposition system, in, U.S.

  25. Hirai, S. K. K. (2002). Conductive path or electrode, and method for forming the same, in, Japan.

  26. Dharmadasa, R., Jha, M., Amos, D. A., & Druffel, T. (2013). Room temperature synthesis of a copper ink for the intense pulsed light sintering of conductive copper films. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 5, 13227–13234.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Patil, S. A., Ryu, C.-H., & Kim, H.-S. (2018). Synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles (Cu-Nps) using rongalite as reducing agent and photonic sintering of Cu-Nps ink for printed electronics. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 5, 239–245.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Araki, T., Sugahara, T., Jiu, J., Nagao, S., Nogi, M., Koga, H., et al. (2013). Cu salt ink formulation for printed electronics using photonic sintering. Langmuir, 29, 11192–11197.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wong, D., Yim, C., & Park, S. S. Hybrid manufacturing of oxidation resistant cellulose nanocrystals-copper-graphene nanoplatelets based electrodes. In International journal of precision engineering and manufacturing-green technology, pp. 1–15.

  30. Schroder, K., McCool, S., & Furlan, W. (2006). Broadcast photonic curing of metallic nanoparticle films. NSTI Nanotech, 7, 11.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schroder, K. A., McCool, S., Hamill, D., Wilson, D., Furlan, W., Walter, K., Willauer, D., & Martin, K. (2010). Electrical, plating and catalytic uses of metal nanomaterial compositions, in, U.S.

  32. Kim, H.-S., Dhage, S. R., Shim, D.-E., & Hahn, H. T. (2009). Intense pulsed light sintering of copper nanoink for printed electronics. Applied Physics A, 97, 791.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Han, Q., Sun, S., Li, J., & Wang, X. (2011). Growth of copper sulfide dendrites and nanowires from elemental sulfur on TEM Cu grids under ambient conditions. Nanotechnology, 22, 155607.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ryu, J., Kim, H.-S., & Hahn, H. T. (2011). Reactive sintering of copper nanoparticles using intense pulsed light for printed electronics. Journal of Electronic Materials, 40, 42–50.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Joo, S.-J., Hwang, H.-J., & Kim, H.-S. (2014). Highly conductive copper nano/microparticles ink via flash light sintering for printed electronics. Nanotechnology, 25, 265601.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Patil, S. A., Hwang, H.-J., Yu, M.-H., Shrestha, N. K., & Kim, H.-S. (2017). Photonic sintering of a ZnO nanosheet photoanode using flash white light combined with deep UV irradiation for dye-sensitized solar cells. RSC Advances, 7, 6565–6573.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Abdullah, E. C., & Geldart, D. (1999). The use of bulk density measurements as flowability indicators. Powder Technology, 102, 151–165.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ryu, C.-H., Moon, C.-J., & Kim, H.-S. (2019). A study on the relationship between print-ability and flash light sinter-ability of Cu nano/micro-ink for printed electronics. Thin Solid Films, 671, 36–43.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lin, H.-W., Chang, C.-P., Hwu, W.-H., & Ger, M.-D. (2008). The rheological behaviors of screen-printing pastes. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 197, 284–291.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hwang, H.-J., Oh, K.-H., & Kim, H.-S. (2016). All-photonic drying and sintering process via flash white light combined with deep-UV and near-infrared irradiation for highly conductive copper nano-ink. Scientific Reports, 6, 19696.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hwang, H.-J., Chung, W.-H., & Kim, H.-S. (2012). In situ monitoring of flash-light sintering of copper nanoparticle ink for printed electronics. Nanotechnology, 23, 485205.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Hwang, Y.-T., Chung, W.-H., Jang, Y.-R., & Kim, H.-S. (2016). Intensive plasmonic flash light sintering of copper nanoinks using a band-pass light filter for highly electrically conductive electrodes in printed electronics. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8, 8591–8599.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Yim, C., Greco, K., Sandwell, A., & Park, S. S. (2017). Eco-friendly and rapid fabrication method for producing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) mask using intensive pulsed light. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 4, 155–159.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Ryu, C.-H., Joo, S.-J., & Kim, H.-S. (2019). Intense pulsed light sintering of Cu nano particles/micro particles-ink assisted with heating and vacuum holding of substrate for warpage free printed electronic circuit. Thin Solid Films, 675, 23–33.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Cengel, A. (2007). HEHT transfer.

  46. Soares, D., Jr., & Wrobel, L. C. (2019). A locally stabilized explicit approach for nonlinear heat conduction analysis. Computers and Structures, 214, 40–47.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Agarwala, M., Bourell, D., Beaman, J., Marcus, H., & Barlow, J. (1995). Direct selective laser sintering of metals. Rapid Prototyping Journal, 1, 26–36.

    Google Scholar 

  48. El-Sayed, M. A. (2001). Some interesting properties of metals confined in time and nanometer space of different shapes. Accounts of Chemical Research, 34, 257–264.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Link, S., & El-Sayed, M. A. (2000). Shape and size dependence of radiative, non-radiative and photothermal properties of gold nanocrystals. International Reviews in Physical Chemistry, 19, 409–453.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Hartland, G. V. (2006). Coherent excitation of vibrational modes in metallic nanoparticles. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 57, 403–430.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Chung, W.-H., Hwang, H.-J., & Kim, H.-S. (2015). Flash light sintered copper precursor/nanoparticle pattern with high electrical conductivity and low porosity for printed electronics. Thin Solid Films, 580, 61–70.

    Google Scholar 

  52. German, R. M. (1996). Sintering theory and practice. In Solar-Terrestrial Physics, p. 568.

  53. Shatokha, V. (2012). Sintering: Methods and products, BoD-books on demand.

  54. Damaceanu, M.-D., Rusu, R.-D., Bruma, M., & Jarzabek, B. (2010). Photo-optical properties of poly (oxadiazole-imide) s containing naphthalene rings. Polymer Journal, 42, 663.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Kim, D., & Shen, Y. (1999). Study of wet treatment of polyimide by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy. Applied Physics Letters, 74, 3314–3316.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Park, S.-H., Chung, W.-H., & Kim, H.-S. (2014). Temperature changes of copper nanoparticle ink during flash light sintering. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 214, 2730–2738.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education (2012R1A6A1029029, 2018R1D1A1A09083236). This work was also supported by Materials & Components Technology Development Program (20002957, Development of AgNW/rGO transparent electrode material and process based on IPL for OPV) funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE, Korea).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-Dong, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea

    Yong-Rae Jang, Chung-Hyeon Ryu, Yeon-Taek Hwang & Hak-Sung Kim

  2. Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea

    Hak-Sung Kim

Authors
  1. Yong-Rae Jang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chung-Hyeon Ryu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yeon-Taek Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hak-Sung Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hak-Sung Kim.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jang, YR., Ryu, CH., Hwang, YT. et al. Optimization of Intense Pulsed Light Sintering Considering Dimensions of Printed Cu Nano/Micro-paste Patterns for Printed Electronics. Int. J. of Precis. Eng. and Manuf.-Green Tech. 8, 471–485 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-019-00180-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-019-00180-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation