Product Code: ICA12_1201

Production of Silver Conductive Paths by Laser Processing
Authors:
Melanie Meixner, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT); - Germany
Jochen Stollenwerk, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), Chair for the Technology of Optical Systems (TOS), RWTH Aachen Univ.; Aachen
Konrad Wissenbach, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT); Aachen
Presented at ICALEO 2012

An increasing number of electronic applications need conductive paths on different substrates. One approach to apply these structures is by wet-chemical coating processes which have been proven to be a powerful tool for producing functional layers. Printing techniques show great potential due to resource-efficient, flexible and inexpensive application of structures. This is particularly challenging as the necessary thermal treatment of the films often requires temperatures that exceed the temperature stability of the substrate. By using laser treatment to substitute the oven process, Fraunhofer ILT has been able to overcome those drawbacks and create metallic conductive paths on different substrates, e.g., inexpensive but highly temperature sensitive PET foil. The achievable high heating and cooling rates allow the required film temperatures to be reached without damaging the temperature-sensitive substrate. Drying, sintering and even partial melting of the nanoparticulate layers have been achieved by using laser radiation at high processing speeds. Partial melting of the layer increases the conductivity dramatically and aims for conductivity of more than 50% of the bulk material.