Selective Metal Pattern Fabrication Through Micro-Contact or Ink-Jet Printing and Electroless Plating onto Polymer Surfaces Chemically Modified by Plasma Treatments

• Published in: The Journal of adhesion Vol. 85; no. 10; pp. 690 - 710
• Main Authors: Bessueille, F., Gout, S., Cotte, S., Goepfert, Y., Léonard, D., Romand, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 18.09.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adhesion; Applied sciences; Atomic force microscopy; Coating, metallization, dyeing; Deposition; Electroless deposition; Electroless plating; Exact sciences and technology; Ink-jet printing; Machinery and processing; Metal patterning; Metal/polymer interface; Micro-contact printing; Nickel; Palladium-based catalysis; Plasma treatments; Plastics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer substrates; Printing; Silver; Surface analysis; Surface chemistry; Technology of polymers; Tin-based sensitization; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Polyimide; Patterning; Plasma assisted processing; Electroless deposition; Metallizing; Surface analysis; Experimental study; Adhesion; Surface treatment; Micro-contact printing; Tin-based sensitization; Structure processing relationship; Metal patterning; Plasma treatments; Chemical modification; Metal/polymer interface; Ink-jet printing; Ink jet printing; Palladium-based catalysis; Electroless plating; Polymer substrates
• ISSN: 0021-8464; 1563-518X; 1545-5823
• DOI: 10.1080/00218460902997208

Simple versatile processes combining plasma treatments, micro-contact printing (µCP) or ink-jet printing (IJP), and electroless deposition (ELD) have been developed to produce micrometer and sub-micrometer scale metal (Ni, Ag) patterns at the surface of polymer substrates. Plasma treatments were mainly used to graft the substrate surfaces with either nitrogen-containing functionalities on which a palladium-based catalyst can be subsequently chemisorbed (case of Ni deposition through a tin-free process in solution) or oxygen-containing functionalities on which a tin-based sensitization agent can be subsequently chemisorbed (case of Ag deposition through a redox reaction). µCP of the catalyst or of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as well as ink printing were used to obtain locally active or non-active areas at the polymer surfaces. The metal micro-patterns were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface chemical characterization was carried out by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).