Project description

A significant problem in printed electronics is the incomplete sintering of conductive inks containing mirco- and nanoparticles – also known as skinning – and its consequences, such as associated economically suboptimal processes, reduced conductivity, poor surface quality and possible mechanical reliability problems. A second problem is the lack of a characterization method with which this effect can be characterized with sufficient accuracy, and thus observed at all, in order to optimize existing processes, materials and thus end products. The research objective is therefore to develop and test such a novel electrical characterization method and to apply it to existing processes. The method is based on the skin effect known in high-frequency technology, which describes the penetration depth of electromagnetic alternating fields in metals that decreases with frequency, thus making it possible to establish a connection between electrical transmission properties and the conductivity profile of sintered conductors. This makes it possible to characterize different inks and the effects of different parameters during the sintering process by means of appropriate measurement technology.