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Laser sintering of gravure printed indium tin oxide films on polyethylene terephthalate for flexible electronics

Serkov, Anton; Snelling, H. V.; Heusing, S.; Martins Amaral, T.

Authors

Anton Serkov

H. V. Snelling

S. Heusing

T. Martins Amaral



Abstract

© 2019, The Author(s). Tin doped indium oxide (ITO) thin films provide excellent transparency and conductivity for electrodes in displays and photovoltaic systems. Current advances in producing printable ITO inks are reducing the volume of wasted indium during thin film patterning. However, their applicability to flexible electronics is hindered by the need for high temperature processing that results in damage to conventional polymer substrates. Here, we detail the conditions under which laser heating can be used as a replacement for oven and furnace treatments. Measurements of the optical properties of both the printed ITO film and the polymer substrate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) identify that in the 1.5–2.0 μm wavelength band there is absorption in the ITO film but good transparency in PET. Hence, laser light that is not absorbed in the film does not go on to add a deleterious energy loading to the substrate. Localization of the energy deposition in the film is further enhanced by using ultrashort laser pulses (~1 ps) thus limiting heat flow during the interaction. Under these conditions, laser processing of the printed ITO films results in an improvement of the conductivity without damage to the PET.

Citation

Serkov, A., Snelling, H. V., Heusing, S., & Martins Amaral, T. (2019). Laser sintering of gravure printed indium tin oxide films on polyethylene terephthalate for flexible electronics. Scientific reports, 9(1), Article 1773. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38043-y

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 13, 2018
Online Publication Date Feb 11, 2019
Publication Date Dec 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jan 17, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jul 1, 2019
Journal Scientific Reports
Print ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 1
Article Number 1773
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38043-y
Keywords Indium tin oxide films
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1218350
Publisher URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-38043-y
Contract Date Jan 17, 2019

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