Fast and low-temperature sintering of silver complex using oximes as a potential reducing agent for solution-processible, highly conductive electrodes

• Published in: Nanotechnology Vol. 25; no. 46; p. 465706
• Main Authors: Yoo, Ji Hoon, Han, Dae Sang, Park, Su Bin, Chae, Jangwoo, Kim, Ji Man, Kwak, Jeonghun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 21.11.2014; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Acetone; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; low-temperature sintering; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; oxime; Oximes; Physics; reducing agent; Reducing agents; Reflectivity; Silver; silver complex; silver electrode; Sintering; solution-process; Surface resistance; Thermal properties of condensed matter; Thermal properties of small particles, nanocrystals, nanotubes; Visible and ultraviolet spectra; Oximes; Ketones; Surface resistance; Thermal decomposition; Dimethylglyoxime; Inks; Thin films; Reflectivity; Thermal properties; Silver; Reflection spectrum; Sintering; Silver complexes; Acetone
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/465706
• ISSN: 0957-4484

Highly conductive, solution-processed silver thin-films were obtained at a low sintering temperature of 100 °C in a short sintering time of 10 min by introducing oximes as a potential reductant for silver complex. The thermal properties and reducibility of three kinds of oximes, acetone oxime, 2-butanone oxime, and one dimethylglyoxime, were investigated as a reducing agent, and we found that the thermal decomposition product of oximes (ketones) accelerated the conversion of silver complex into highly conductive silver at low sintering temperature in a short time. Using the acetone oxime, the silver thin-film exhibited the lowest surface resistance (0.91 sq−1) compared to those sing other oximes. The silver thin-film also showed a high reflectance of 97.8%, which is comparable to evaporated silver films. We also demonstrated inkjet printed silver patterns with the oxime-added silver complex inks.