Electrochemical migration of Ag nanoink patterns controlled by atmospheric-pressure plasma

Highly contrasting surface energies were induced on polyimide (PI) substrates using atmospheric-pressure plasma (APP) to allow precise printing of Ag electrodes that showed mitigated electrochemical migration (ECM). The substrate surface was made uniformly hydrophobic via APP tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) polymerization. Selected areas were then made hydrophilic via oxygen APP applied through a patterned metal mask. Ag nanoink was then inkjet-printed onto the hydrophilic portions and sintered for 30 min at various temperatures ranging from 100 to 250 °C. The resulting Ag patterned electrodes were of the desired dimensions and showed sharp edges. The Ag ECM dendrites deposited at the cathode took ca. 39% longer than in similar patterns printed on pristine substrates. The contrasting surface-energies induced by the plasma allowed precise control of the Ag electrodes’ edges, which led to reduce ECM.

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► APP is efficient for precise metallization by varying surface energy of a substrate.
► The edge shape of Ag nanoink electrode was controlled to improve the ECM resistance.
► The ECM time of Ag electrode was increased by an average of 39% after APP treatment.