Metal inks, methods of making the same, and methods for printing and/or forming metal films

US8066805B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kovio, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Fabio R. Zurcher · Brisbane, US
• Aditi Chandra · Los Gatos, US
• Wenzhuo Guo · Cupertino, US
• Erik C. Scher · San Francisco, US
• Mao Takashima · Cupertino, US
• Joerg Rockenberger · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 29, 2011
• Expiry date: May 12, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C23C18/1653
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Printable metal formulations, methods of making the formulations, and methods of coating or printing thin films from metal ink precursors are disclosed. The metal formulation generally includes one or more Group 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 metal salts or metal complexes, one or more solvents adapted to facilitate coating and/or printing of the formulation, and one or more optional additives that form (only) gaseous or volatile byproducts upon reduction of the metal salt or metal complex to an elemental metal and/or alloy thereof. The formulation may be made by combining the metal salt(s) or metal complex(es) and the solvent(s), and dissolving the metal salt(s) or metal complex(es) in the solvent(s) to form the formulation. Thin films may be made by coating or printing the metal formulation on a substrate; removing the solvents to form a metal-containing precursor film; and reducing the metal-containing precursor film.