Ink jet processing of metallic nanoparticle suspensions for electronic circuitry fabrication

A solution-processable approach in creating gold circuit electrodes with features as fine as 100 mum is demonstrated, using a piezoelectrically driven printhead to deposit metallic nanoparticle suspensions. The suspensions consist of gold particles ranging 5-20 nm in diameter suspended in a toluene solvent. The amount of gold nanoparticles present in the suspensions ranges between 30 to 50% by weight. Inductor and capacitor electrode patterns are deposited onto a glass substrate and thermally processed to drive off the solvent and allow the nanoparticles to coalesce/sinter, thereby yielding a conductive path with an electrical resistivity of O(10(-7)) Omegam.