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Exposing Metal Oxide with Intrinsic Catalytic Activity by Near‐Infrared Pulsed Laser: Laser‐Induced Selective Metallization on Polymer Materials
Author(s) -
Zhang Jihai,
Zhou Tao,
Xie Yi,
Wen Liang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201700937
Subject(s) - materials science , copper , substrate (aquarium) , tin , laser , polymer , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , oxide , tin oxide , layer (electronics) , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , doping , nanotechnology , composite material , metallurgy , optics , oceanography , physics , engineering , geology
In this work, a facile strategy is presented for the fabrication of precisely metallized patterns on polymer substrate based on the copper‐free laser sensitizer through laser direct structuring (LDS) technology. A series of characterization methods are carried out to investigate the surface chemistry and morphology of polymer/antimony‐doped tin oxide (ATO) composites after laser activation and selective metallization. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show that a small part of Sn 4+ and Sb 5+ in ATO is reduced to Sn 2+ and Sb 3+ , and it does not detect any Sn 0 (elemental tin) after laser activation. This study confirms that ATO is a good copper‐free laser sensitizer and an efficient catalyst for selective metallization. Furthermore, the obtained copper layer is anchoring into the substrate leading to a superior adhesion property (highest 5 B level after Scotch tape test) between the copper layer and polymer substrate. Meanwhile, the obtained copper circuit line exhibits high conductivity (1.26 × 10 7 Ω −1 m −1 ) and excellent stability over time. This study also provides a guideline to develop copper‐free laser sensitizer for LDS technology.