"Printed electronics have become a major technology in the electronics industry since they provide the ability to wire electronic components and circuits with ease and precision. But silver-based conductive inks are very expensive, and copper-based inks designed to replace them are not stable in air.

In addition, unlike graphic printing, metallic conductive inks require sintering – a method based on atomic diffusion for creating objects from metal and ceramic powders. In most sintering processes, the powdered material is put in a mold and then heated to a temperature below the melting point. The tiny nanoparticles can then meld together and form a continuous conductive structure.

Current copper-based inks require high sintering temperatures, and this limits their use and application on heat-sensitive surfaces.

Now, Yissum, the Hebrew University’s research and development arm, has introduced new oxidation-resistant copper nano-inks with a low sintering temperature (lower than 150 C). This makes it possible to print low-cost conductive patterns on heat-sensitive plastic substrates.

Developed by Prof. Shlomo Magdassi of the chemistry institute and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the new inks can be tailored for a variety of applications, including ink-jet, flexography and screen printing.

“Printed electronics opens the door to a future of electronic applications such as flexible displays, smart labels, decorative and animated posters, as well as active clothing,” said Yissum CEO Yaacov Michlin. “Thanks to this great potential, the total market for printed, organic and flexible electronics is projected to grow from $16 billion in 2013 to $76.8b. in the next 10 years,” he said.

“The copper-based nano-ink invented solves some of the major limitations that are preventing widespread use of conductive inks, and we are certain that this novel ink will become an important aspect of the growing industry of printed electronics.

With its unique properties, the novel ink is suitable for various applications including RFID-tags, solar cells, sensors and electrodes for displays.”

Yissum is now looking for partners for further development and commercialization of this invention."

Source: http://www.jpost.com/Enviro-Tech/Low-cost-copper-conducting-nano-inks-in...