The self-induced electric-field-driven jet printing for fabricating ultrafine silver grid transparent electrode

ABSTRACT

To overcome the mandatory requirement of nozzle conductivity in the conventional electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing, this paper proposed a self-induced electric-field-driven jet printing for fabricating ultrafine silver grids. In this method, only a copper foil is mounted on an insulating glass nozzle to serve as an extraction electrode for producing an electric field with substrate by electrostatic induction, which not only saves the fabrication cost of conduction treatment, but also reduces the amount of residual charges to improve printing stability. The simulation and experimental results have confirmed printing ability and optimised the printing parameters. Based on the optimised parameters and high viscosity silver paste, silver grids with line width (300 nm–7 μm) and aspect-ratio (0.39–1) have been printed successfully. Finally, silver grids with line width of 3.5 μm and a pitch of 90 μm were successfully fabricated with excellent performance of transmittance (T = 92%) and sheet resistance (R_s= 1.3429 Ω sq⁻¹).

KEYWORDS:

• Self-induced electric-field-driven
• extraction electrode
• silver grids

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 51805287, 51775288], the key research and development plan of Shandong Province [grant number 2019GGX104060], and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant number 2018M642629].

Notes on contributors

Zhi Wang

Zhi Wang is Postgraduate researcher in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China. His research activities are mainly focused on 3D printing and micro-nano manufacturing.

Guangming Zhang

Guangming Zhang is an associate professor in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China. His research activities are mainly focused on the research and development of Micro/Nano-scale 3D printing process and equipment, Bio 3D printing, and Powder metallurgy and ceramic 3D printing.

Hui Huang

Hui Huang is Postgraduate researcher in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China. His research activities are mainly focused on 3D printing and micro-nano manufacturing.

Lei Qian

Lei Qian is Postgraduate researcher who have graduated in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China.

Xiaoling Liu

Xiaoling Liu is a full professor in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China.

Hongbo Lan

Hongbo Lan is a full professor in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, China. He is now a director in Shandong Engineering Research Center for Additive Manufacturing; Qindao Engineering Research Center for 3D Printing. His current research interests include micro- and nano-scale 3D printing, additive manufacturing, large-area nanoimprint lithography, and micro/nano-manufacturing. He is a committee member of Additive Manufacturing Standards-ISO/TC 261, committee member of Additive Manufacturing Standards - SAC/TC562. He was awarded the Expert with Special Government Allowances from the State Council, Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions in Shandong Province, New Century Excellent Talents in University of Ministry of Education, etc.