Solution phase synthesis and intense pulsed light sintering and reduction of a copper oxide ink with an encapsulating nickel oxide barrier

Copper oxide nanoparticle inks sintered and reduced by intense pulsed light (IPL) are an inexpensive means to produce conductive patterns on a number of substrates. However, the oxidation and diffusion characteristics of copper are issues that must be resolved before it can be considered as a viable solution. Nickel can provide a degree of oxidation protection and act as a barrier for the diffusion of copper. In the present study we have for the first time synthesized copper oxide with an encapsulating nickel oxide nanostructure using a solution phase synthesis process in the presence of a surfactant at room temperature. The room temperature process enables us to easily prevent the formation of alloys at the copper–nickel interface. The synthesis results in a simple technique (easily commercializable, tested at a 10 g scale) with highly controllable layer thicknesses on a 20 nm copper oxide nanoparticle. These Cu 2 O@NiO dispersions were then directly deposited onto subs...

M Jha, R Dharmadasa, G L Draper, A Sherehiy, G Sumanasekera, D Amos and T Druffel

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