Particle-free gold metal-organic decomposition ink for inkjet printing of gold structures

The application of liquid [AuO2CCH2(OCH2CH2)(2)OCH3((Bu3P)-Bu-n)] (1) as a metal-organic decomposition ink containing 34.2 wt.% of gold is reported. Chemical and physical properties of 1 are discussed. The ink formulated of 20 wt.% of 1 in toluene (gold concentration 6.9 wt.%) exhibits rheological properties well-suited for piezo inkjet printing. Conversion into electrically conductive gold was accomplished by thermal treatment optimized to provide best possible conductivity, contour accuracy, and layer homogeneity. The thermal decomposition of 1 was studied by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry coupling experiments. It was found that at first decarboxylation takes place forming [AuCH2(OCH2CH2)(2)OCH3((PBu3)-Bu-n)], further heating cleaves the Au-P bond and releases PnBu3. This resulting compound decomposes via Au-C, C-C and C-O bond cleavage processes giving gold and appropriate organics (CxHyOz (x >= 3)). The printed features exhibit conductivities of up to 1.9x10(7) S center dot m(-1) on glass which corresponds to 43% of bulk gold conductivity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.