One-step gold line fabrication from particle-free inorganic salt-based ink via atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasma-assisted inkjet printing

With the growing demand for printed electronics, the printing technology using metals has become increasingly crucial. To reduce the thermal damage to printed electronic devices, it is essential to produce the metallic pattern in a short time and at a low temperature. Furthermore, to prevent nozzle clogging in the inkjet printing process, solution-based inks rather than particle-dispersed inks are desired. Here, we demonstrate the one-step printing of a gold line from an aqueous chloroauric acid solution via a nanosecond-pulsed atmospheric pressure (NSAP) nonequilibrium plasma-assisted inkjet printing process. The time required to reach the gold line without any salt footprints was less than 1 min. The substrate temperature was expected to be less than 70 degrees C, which is lower than that observed for conventional processes. The width of the drawn line changed according to the power input to the plasma. The applicability of the printed gold as a sensing platform for surface-enhanced Raman scattering was confirmed by detecting low concentrations of rhodamine 6G molecules. High-density reactive species in NSAP nonequilibrium plasma are expected to promote rapid and low-temperature fabrication of a metallic pattern from an inorganic metal salt solution, leading to the sophistication and diversification of future printed electronics.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates a method of printing a gold line from an aqueous chloroauric acid solution in a short time and at low temperature using the NSAP nonequilibrium plasma-assisted inkjet printing process. It also confirms the feasibility of using printed gold as a sensing platform for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.