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New patented method for mask-less production of nano- and micro-patterned metal films
About
Silver and copper are the most widely used electrical conductors in modern electronics and solar cells. However, conventional methods of patterning these metals to make the desired pattern of conducting lines are based on selectively removing metal from a film by etching using harmful chemicals or printing from costly metal inks. Scientists from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick, have developed a novel method of depositing patterned metal films that is likely to prove much more sustainable and cheaper for large scale production, because there is no metal waste or use of toxic chemicals, and the fabrication method is compatible with continuous roll-to-roll processing.
Key Benefits
The Warwick method offers a number of benefits over currently available approaches, including: A scaleable manufacturing process, compatible with roll-to-roll processing No harmful chemical etchants No contamination with lithographic resist residues Lower production costs
Applications
Patterned metal films with precisely controlled aperture sizes have applications across a wide range of market sectors, including: Semi-transparent top electrodes for solar cells Flexible biosensors Low-emissivity glass Flexible display technologies