Fast and low-temperature sintering of silver complex using oximes as a potential reducing agent for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Solution-processed silver thin-films are crucial for electronics.
• Low-temperature processing methods are needed to reduce energy consumption and material compatibility issues.
• Conventional methods often require high temperatures or long processing times.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate oximes as novel reducing agents for synthesizing highly conductive silver thin-films.
• To explore the effect of different oximes on the reduction process and film properties.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using oxime-based inks for printed electronics.

Main Methods:

• Investigated thermal properties and reducibility of three oximes (acetone oxime, 2-butanone oxime, dimethylglyoxime).
• Utilized oximes as reductants in a silver complex solution.
• Sintered silver thin-films at 100 °C for 10 minutes.
• Characterized surface resistance and reflectance of the resulting silver films.
• Demonstrated inkjet printing of silver patterns using oxime-added inks.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly conductive silver thin-films at a low sintering temperature (100 °C) and short time (10 min).
• Oxime decomposition products (ketones) accelerated silver complex conversion.
• Acetone oxime yielded the lowest surface resistance (0.91 Ω sq(-1)).
• Obtained high reflectance (97.8%), comparable to evaporated silver films.
• Successfully demonstrated inkjet printed silver patterns.

Conclusions:

• Oximes are effective low-temperature reducing agents for solution-processed silver thin-films.
• Ketones generated from oxime decomposition play a key role in rapid silver formation.
• This method offers a promising route for energy-efficient fabrication of conductive silver films and printed electronics.