Silver nanowire based, electrically conductive inks, pastes and electrically conductive polymer composites with metal particulates, and corresponding methods

Abstract

Concentrated flowable compositions having a total metal weight of at least about 45 wt % are used to form an electrically conductive material. The compositions include metal particulates such as silver flakes, silver particles and/or silver nanowires, and for embodiments of particular interest, a reducible metal composition such as one or more silver salts. The composition includes an organic precursor that forms a polymeric matrix and includes a dissolved polymer binder, a crosslinkable or polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer, or a mixture thereof. The flowable precursor composition can be used to form an electrically conductive structure such as a composite of solid polymer matrix and at least about 45 wt % metal. The composite can have a resistivity of no more than about 5×10−3 Ohm-cm. Methods for forming the flowable precursor composition and the composites are described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.