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Metal nanoparticle compositionsRelated Patent Categories: Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process, Coating With Electrically Or Thermally Conductive Material, To Form Ohmic Contact To Semiconductive MaterialMetal nanoparticle compositions description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060189113, Metal nanoparticle compositions. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial Nos. 60/643,577; 60/643,629; and 60/643,378, all filed on Jan. 14, 2005, the entireties of which are all incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to metal nanoparticle compositions that are useful for the production of electrically conductive features. The compositions may advantageously be deposited on a variety of substrates and processed into electrically conductive features at low temperatures. The compositions can also have a viscosity which allows the deposition of the compositions using direct-write tools, such as ink-jet devices. [0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information [0005] The electronics, display and energy industries rely on the formation of coatings and patterns of conductive materials to form circuits on organic and inorganic substrates. The primary methods for generating these patterns are screen printing for features larger than about 100 .mu.m and thin film and etching methods for features smaller than about 100 .mu.m. Other subtractive methods to attain fine feature sizes include the use of photo-patternable pastes and laser trimming. [0006] One consideration with respect to patterning of conductors is cost. Non-vacuum, additive methods generally entail lower costs than vacuum and subtractive approaches. Some of these printing approaches utilize high viscosity flowable liquids. Screen-printing, for example, uses flowable mediums with viscosities of thousands of centipoise. At the other extreme, low viscosity compositions can be deposited by methods such as ink-jet printing. However, low viscosity compositions are not as well developed as the high viscosity compositions. [0007] Ink-jet printing of conductors has been explored, but the approaches to date have been inadequate for producing well-defined features with good electrical properties, particularly at relatively low temperatures. [0008] There exists a need for compositions for the fabrication of conductive features for use in electronics, displays, and other applications. Further, there is a need for compositions that have low processing temperatures to allow deposition onto organic substrates and subsequent thermal treatment. It would also be advantageous if the compositions could be deposited with a fine feature size, such as not greater than about 100 .mu.m, while still providing electronic features with adequate electrical and mechanical properties. [0009] An advantageous metal nanoparticle composition and its associated deposition technique for the fabrication of electrically conductive features would combine a number of attributes. The conductive feature would have high conductivity, preferably close to that of the pure bulk metal. The processing temperature would be low enough to allow formation of conductors on a variety of organic substrates (polymers). The deposition technique would allow deposition onto surfaces that are non-planar (e.g., not flat). The conductor would also have good adhesion to the substrate. The composition would desirably be inkjet printable, allowing the introduction of cost-effective material deposition for production of devices such as flat panel displays (PDP, AMLCD, OLED). The composition would desirably also be flexo, gravure, or offset printable, again enabling lower cost and higher yield production processes as compared to screen printing. [0010] Further, there is a need for electronic circuit elements and complete electronic circuits fabricated on inexpensive, thin and/or flexible substrates, such as paper, using high volume printing techniques such as reel-to-reel printing. Recent developments in organic thin film transistor (TFT) technology and organic light emitting device (OLED) technology have accelerated the need for complimentary circuit elements that can be written directly onto low cost substrates. Such elements include conductive interconnects, electrodes, conductive contacts and via fills. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention is directed to metal nanoparticle compositions that can be deposited onto a substrate using, for example, direct-write methods such as ink-jet deposition. The metal nanoparticle compositions preferably exhibit a low processing (curing) temperature, thereby permitting the formation of electrically conductive features on a variety of substrates, including organic substrates. The metal nanoparticle compositions can be deposited onto a substrate and processed by heating and/or irradiation to form features with good electrical and/or mechanical properties. [0012] In particular, the present invention provides a composition which is suitable for the fabrication of an electrically conductive feature by using a direct-write tool. The composition comprises metal nanoparticles which carry thereon a substance that is capable of substantially preventing an agglomeration of the nanoparticles (hereafter referred to as "anti-agglomeration substance") and a vehicle that is capable of forming a dispersion with the metal nanoparticles. [0013] The present invention also provides a composition for the fabrication of a conductive feature by ink-jet printing, which composition comprises at least about 5 weight percent of metal nanoparticles which carry thereon an organic substance that is capable of substantially preventing an agglomeration of the nanoparticles, and a vehicle that comprises a mixture of organic solvents. The composition has a surface tension at 20.degree. C. of from about 20 dynes/cm to about 40 dynes/cm and a viscosity at 20.degree. C. of from about 5 cP to about 15 cP. [0014] The present invention also provides a composition for providing a substrate with a metal structure (e.g., a discrete feature, a metal layer, etc.). The composition comprises at least about 10 weight percent of substantially non-agglomerated metal nanoparticles which have adsorbed thereon a polymer, and a vehicle which comprises an organic solvent that is capable of dissolving the polymer. The composition has a surface tension at 20.degree. C. of not higher than about 60 dynes/cm and a viscosity at 20.degree. C. of not higher than about 30 cP. [0015] The present invention further provides a composition for ink-jet printing, which composition comprises metal nanoparticles and is capable of being deposited on a substrate by ink-jet printing of the composition in not more than two passes (e.g., a single pass) of an ink-jet printing head as a line that can be rendered electrically conductive. [0016] The present invention also provides a printed metallic feature which comprises a metal and a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer in a weight ratio of from about 100:1 to about 5:1. [0017] Further, the present invention provides a substrate which has a metal structure thereon. The metal structure comprises. voids that are at least partially filled with an organic polymer, e.g., a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer. [0018] The present invention also provides a method for the fabrication of a conductive feature on a substrate, which method comprises forming the feature by applying a composition according to the present invention to the substrate and subjecting the feature to heat and/or radiation and/or pressure to render the feature electrically conductive. [0019] The present invention also provides a method for the fabrication of a conductive feature on a substrate. The method comprises [0020] (a) depositing on the substrate a composition comprising (i) metal nanoparticles which carry thereon a substance that is capable of substantially preventing an agglomeration of the nanoparticles and (ii) a liquid vehicle that comprises a solvent that is capable of dissolving the agglomeration-preventing substance; and [0021] (b) converting the deposited composition to a conductive feature by subjecting it to heat and/or pressure and/or radiation. [0022] The present invention also provides a further method for the fabrication of a conductive feature on a substrate. This method comprises [0023] (a) ink-jet printing on the substrate a composition comprising (i) at least about 10% by weight of substantially non-agglomerated silver nanoparticles which carry thereon a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer and (ii) a liquid vehicle; and [0024] (b) converting the printed composition to a conductive feature by subjecting the composition to heat and/or pressure and/or radiation. [0025] The present invention also provides the use of a composition for the fabrication of an electrically conductive feature, wherein the composition comprises (a) metal nanoparticles which carry thereon a substance that is capable of substantially preventing an agglomeration of the nanoparticles and (b) a vehicle that is capable of forming a dispersion with the metal nanoparticles, the composition being suitable for the fabrication of an electrically conductive feature by using a direct-write tool. Continue reading about Metal nanoparticle compositions... Full patent description for Metal nanoparticle compositions Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Metal nanoparticle compositions patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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