Posted in | News | Nanomaterials | Nanoanalysis

Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink

The development of an oil-based sustainable solution of conductive silver ink and the enhancement of its film deposition in a substrate are the subjects of new research published in the journal Materials Chemistry and Physics.

Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink

Study: Improved stability and film formability of oil-based silver nanoparticle suspensions by addition of polystyrene. Image Credit: Graphic Compressor/Shutterstock.com

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were made in water with the introduction of co-stabilizing chemicals oleic acid (OA) and butylamine (BA). Because of the increased connectivity between the lengthy alkyl groups in OA and cyclohexane, the Ag-NPs were more stable in cyclohexane than in hexane.

As a result, the biodegradable silver conductive ink created can be used in a variety of electrical gadgets and printable electronic parts.

Importance of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs)

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied intensively for years due to their use as sophisticated multifunctional materials in applications like electronic components, electro-optical industry, bioelectronics, diagnostic devices, nanosensors, and electrocatalysts.

The electromagnetic, photonic, antibacterial, and biochemical capabilities of metallic nanoparticles are heavily dependent on particle size and shape, with a lower particle size being preferred.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are the most desirable metal nanoparticles in many applications due to their high conductance, antibacterial, and anti-oxidative characteristics.

Use of Ag-NPs in Conductive Inks

Ag-NPs have been used primarily in the production of conductive inks, glues, and resins for a wide range of consumer products.

Among these technologies, conductive silver ink has garnered considerable interest, particularly in the printed electronics industry. This is due to its ability to ease operations and lower production costs as compared to standard lithographic and electroless methods.

After solution extraction and thermal processing, conducting silver ink composed of Ag-NPs or their precursors can change into printable designs with conductance. Additionally, a variety of substrates such as glassware, polymers, cellulose, and even paper may be used to create these conducting inks.

Methods for Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles

There are several approaches for the production of Ag-NPs, but the most practical technique is chemical reduction.

Numerous reducing agents can be applied for this purpose, including hydrazine, sodium boron hydride, ethylene glycol, and methanol. When silver compounds are dissolved in water, an appropriate protective agent or bolstering agent is added to prevent Ag-NPs from growing or becoming unstable.

Since many silver accelerators and reductants are soluble in water, it is simpler to produce Ag-NPs in an aqueous medium. However, due to the physical features of the water dispersion particles, such as interfacial tension, fluidity, and polarization, it is challenging to produce a homogeneous thin layer over hydrophobic surfaces.

To address these shortfalls, the inclusion of an organic solvent with coating-suitable physical characteristics is suggested.

A Novel Method for Increasing Film Formability of Ag-NPs

Whenever the conducting Ag-NP toner is applied to the base, the film formability of the Ag-NPs is not as good as expected, resulting in decreased conductance.

The researchers created a biodegradable silver conductive ink for usage on a number of surfaces and industries in this study.

Silver nitrate was used as the metal catalyst, ascorbic acid was used as the reductant, and aliphatic acid and butylamine (BA) were added to regulate particle size and preserve the Ag-NPs formed both in liquid phase as well as in polar solvents.

The use of a suitable organic fluid and a polymeric binder considerably improved the durability and sheet ductility of the pure silver conducting ink on the glass surface.

Research Findings and Conclusion

In this work, silver conducting ink was created by dissolving a polar agent in oleate-capped Ag-NPs in water. Due to the increased contact of monomers, it was found that Ag-NPs were much more durable in cyclohexane than in hexane.

The steric restriction provided by the connected oleate meant that the nanoparticles can remain stable in cyclohexane for more than a year. Additionally, adding PS to the cyclohexane enhanced the ink's hydrophilicity on the glass plate and increased the film's formability and stability while avoiding visible oxidation.

The Ag-NP sheets were shown to be quite pure, displaying only metallic silver XRD features. As a result, the created organic silver conducting ink may be used in a variety of electronic devices and printable electrical equipment.

Reference

Wang, Y., Yang, T., Yang, W., Cheng, T., Chiu, W. and Don, T., (2022) Improved stability and film formability of oil-based silver nanoparticle suspensions by addition of polystyrene. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 282, p.125930. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S025405842200236X

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Hussain Ahmed

Written by

Hussain Ahmed

Hussain graduated from Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad with Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering. During his studies, he worked on several research projects related to Aerospace Materials & Structures, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Nano-technology & Robotics. After graduating, he has been working as a freelance Aerospace Engineering consultant. He developed an interest in technical writing during sophomore year of his B.S degree and has wrote several research articles in different publications. During his free time, he enjoys writing poetry, watching movies and playing Football.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Ahmed, Hussain. (2022, March 07). Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink. AZoNano. Retrieved on October 03, 2024 from https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38789.

  • MLA

    Ahmed, Hussain. "Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink". AZoNano. 03 October 2024. <https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38789>.

  • Chicago

    Ahmed, Hussain. "Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink". AZoNano. https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38789. (accessed October 03, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Ahmed, Hussain. 2022. Enhancing the Conductivity of Silver Ink. AZoNano, viewed 03 October 2024, https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38789.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.