금속 나노입자 프린팅 공정을 이용한 유연전기소자 연구 현황

Abstract

Flexible electronics are the electronics on flexible substrates such as a plastic, fabric or paper, so that they can be folded or attached on any curved surfaces. They are currently recognized as one of the most innovating future technologies especially in the area of portable electronics. The conventional vacuum deposition and photolithographic patterning methods are well developed for inorganic microelectronics. However, flexible polymer substrates are generally chemically incompatible with resists, etchants and developers and high temperature processes used in conventional integrated circuit processing. Additionally, conventional processes are time consuming, very expensive and not environmentally friendly. Therefore, there are strong needs for new materials and a novel processing scheme to realize flexible electronics. This paper introduces current research trends for flexible electronics based on (a) nanoparticles, and (b) novel processing schemes: nanomaterial based direct patterning methods to remove any conventional vacuum deposition and photolithography processes. Among the several unique nanomaterial characteristics, dramatic melting temperature depression (Tm, 3nm particle~150°C) and strong light absorption can be exploited to reduce the processing temperature and to enhance the resolution. This opens a possibility of developing a cost effective, low temperature, high resolution and environmentally friendly approach in the high performance flexible electronics fabrication area.