Rapid sintering of silver nanoparticles in an electrolyte solution at room temperature and its application to fabricate conductive silver films using polydopamine as adhesive layers

Here we demonstrate a new route to achieve the sintering of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) at room temperature. The as-prepared Ag NPs coalesced when they were immersed in electrolyte solutions, such as NaCl and MgSO4. The square resistances of Ag NPs thin films decreased from tens of kiloohms to lower than 1 ohm after treatment with electrolyte solutions for 10s. Conductive Ag NPs thin films can be created on various substrates coated by polydopamine, a mussel-inspired polymer, via silver-plating followed by treatment with electrolyte solutions at room temperature.