# US 2018/0022952 A1 · Conductive ink > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022952 A1 - Document ID: US20180022952A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/550,499 - Filed: 2016-02-12 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-13 - Assignees: DST Innovations Limited - Applicants: DST Innovations Limited - Inventors: Anthony Miles; Benjamin John Masheder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022952A1 ## CPC - C09D 11/52: Electrically conductive inks - C07C 53/00: Saturated compounds having only one carboxyl group bound to an acyclic carbon atom or hydrogen - C07C 55/02: Dicarboxylic acids - C07C 211/02: of an acyclic saturated carbon skeleton - C07C 211/09: Diamines - C08L 39/06: Homopolymers or copolymers of N-vinyl-pyrrolidones - C09D 11/03: characterised by features other than the chemical nature of the binder - H01B 1/22: the conductive material comprising metals or alloys - H01B 13/0026: {Apparatus for manufacturing conducting or semi-conducting layers, e.g. deposition of metal} - H05K 1/095: {for polymer thick films, i.e. having a permanent organic polymeric binder} - H05K 1/097: {Inks comprising nanoparticles and specially adapted for being sintered at low temperature (H05K1/095 takes precedence)} - H10K 71/611: {using printing deposition, e.g. ink jet printing} - H10K 71/621: {Providing a shape to conductive layers, e.g. patterning or selective deposition} - H05K 2201/0272: Mixed conductive particles, i.e. using different conductive particles, e.g. differing in shape - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES ## Abstract A method of forming transparent electrodes using printable conductive ink containing conductive materials dispersed in a viscous liquid which upon printing and thermal treatment will vaporise fully leaving behind the conductive material only. The viscous liquid acts as a medium by which conductive material dispersions are made processable for use in various printing techniques, allowing conductive patterns to be printed onto substrates (e.g. plastics, glass, metals, ceramics). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a printable conductive ink, comprising: forming a mixture of a first composition, comprising at least one amine; a second composition, comprising at least one carboxylic acid; and a conductive material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is mixed with the first composition prior to mixing of the second composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is mixed with the second composition prior to mixing of the first composition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is mixed with the first and second compositions after mixing of the first and second compositions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one amine is a primary amine or carbon-bridged diamine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one amine is a primary amine having a total carbon count of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one amine is a primary amine having a total carbon count of less than 6. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one amine is a carbon-bridged diamine having a carbon count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one amine is a carbon-bridged diamine having a carbon count less than 10. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carboxylic acid has a total carbon count of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carboxylic acid has a total carbon count less than 6. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carboxylic acid is a carbon-bridged dicarboxylic acid with a total carbon count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carboxylic acid is a carbon-bridged dicarboxylic acid with a total carbon count less than 17. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein mixing the first and second compositions is an exothermic reaction, the method further comprising a step of allowing the mixture to cool to form a transparent viscous liquid prior to adding the conductive material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising mixing equimolar quantities of amine and carboxylic acid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of mixing from 0.2 to 2 relative molar amounts of carboxylic acid with amine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises silver nanowires. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the silver nanowires are coated with a dispersant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the dispersant is polyvinylpyrrolidone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive materials is added to the mixture of a concentration of from 5 to 15 weight percent relative to the total weight of mixture. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is added with stirring. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is sonicated after addition of the conductive material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the mixture is sonicated for at least 30 minutes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the mixture is stirred for at least an hour following sonication. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of adding a polymeric additive to the mixture. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A method of forming printed conductive electrodes, comprising: printing a pattern onto a surface of a substrate using conductive ink produced according to claim 1, wherein the conductive ink comprises a liquid component and a conductive material component; and heating the substrate to vaporize the liquid component of the ink to leave the conductive material component adhered to the surface of the substrate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the substrate is heated to a temperature from 100° C. to 150° C. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, comprising the step of coating the substrate with a polymer prior to printing the electrode. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the substrate is coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein pressure is applied to the printed conductive electrode. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein photonic sintering is applied to the printed conductive electrode. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A printable conductive ink manufactured according to the method of claim 1. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) A printed conductive electrode manufactured according to the method of claim 26. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The printed conductive electrode according to claim 33, wherein the printed conductive electrode is transparent. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The printed conductive electrode according to claim 33, wherein the printed conductive electrode is formed from dispersant coated nanowires.