Inkjet printing of silver nano-suspensions on ceramic substrates – Sintering temperature effect on electrical properties

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the electrical properties of silver nano-suspensions inkjet printed on sintered alumina tapes. 1.68 × 10−8 Ω m minimum resistivity close to that of silver resistivity was measured after sintering at 700 °C. To our knowledge this value is one of the lowest measured on inkjet printed metallic lines. Optimisation of a commercial silver nano-suspension containing 15 nm silver particles was performed by adding water and ethylene glycol to original suspension, in order to reduce viscosity and allows printing through nozzle with small 21.5 μm diameter. After printing, line sintering was performed at different temperatures. Then, resistivity value was assessed on 14.40 cm line length.

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► 21% Ag nano-suspension with 15 nm mean diameter.
► Three inkjet printed passes required to allow current conduction.
► Sintering at temperatures varying from 500 to 900 °C.
► 700 °C temperature allows optimum conductivity of 17 nΩ m.