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US 10,240,058 B2Granted
Reactively assisted ink for printed electronic circuits
AssigneeThe Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsGregory M. Fritz, Sara Barron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink contains particles containing metal that reacts during sintering to produce an electrically conductive line or area having a diffusivity that is less than the diffusivity of the metal before the reaction. Resulting electronic circuits therefore exhibit longer useful lives, compared to conventionally inkjet printed circuits.
Claims19
An ink comprising:
- a plurality of particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, wherein:
- at least some of the particles comprise a first metal having a first metal diffusivity;
- and
- at least some of the particles comprise a substance that is chemically reactive with the first metal in a chemical reaction, such that the chemical reaction produces a product that is electrically conductive and has a product diffusivity, and the product diffusivity is less than the first metal diffusivity.
1 more element
An ink kit comprising:
- a first ink comprising a plurality of first particles dispersed in a first carrier fluid, wherein each first particle of the plurality of first particles comprises a first metal having a first metal diffusivity;
- and
- a second ink, separate from the first ink, the second ink comprising a plurality of second particles dispersed in a second carrier fluid, each second particle of the plurality of second particles comprising a substance that is chemically reactive with the first metal in a chemical reaction, such that the chemical reaction produces a product that is electrically conductive and has a product diffusivity, and the product diffusivity is less than the first metal diffusivity.
A method for fabricating an electric conductor, the method comprising:
- applying an ink to a substrate, the ink comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, wherein:
- at least some of the particles comprise a first metal having a first metal diffusivity;
- and
- at least some of the particles comprise a substance that is chemically reactive with the first metal in a chemical reaction, such that the chemical reaction produces a product that is electrically conductive and has a product diffusivity, and the product diffusivity is less than the first metal diffusivity;
- and
- reacting the first metal with the substance, according to the chemical reaction, to produce the product on the substrate.
3 more elements
A method for fabricating an electric conductor, the method comprising:
- applying a first ink to a substrate, the first ink comprising a plurality of first particles dispersed in a first carrier fluid, wherein each first particle of the plurality of first particles comprises a first metal having a first metal diffusivity;
- applying a second ink to the substrate, distinct from the first ink, the second ink comprising a plurality of second particles dispersed in a second carrier fluid, each second particle of the plurality of second particles comprising a substance that is chemically reactive with the first metal in a chemical reaction, such that the chemical reaction produces a product that is electrically conductive and has a product diffusivity, and the product diffusivity is less than the first metal diffusivity;
- and
- reacting the first metal with the substance, according to the chemical reaction, to produce the product on the substrate.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.