Open AccessLarge-scale fabrication of all-inkjet-printed resistors and WORM memories on flexible polymer films with high yield and stability
Author(s) -
Eloi Ramón,
Enrico Sowade,
Carme MartínezDomingo,
Kalyan Yoti Mitra,
Ana Alcalde,
Reinhard R. Baumann,
Jordi Carrabina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
flexible and printed electronics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2058-8585
DOI - 10.1088/2058-8585/abdb40
Subject(s) - printed electronics , fabrication , resistor , materials science , electronics , substrate (aquarium) , cleanroom , inkwell , nanotechnology , inert , printed circuit board , flexible electronics , electronic component , electronic circuit , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , composite material , engineering , medicine , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , voltage , oceanography , geology
We report on the development of inkjet-printed thin-film resistors using both organic and inorganic ink formulations. The passive devices were manufactured on flexible polymer substrates in ambient condition without the need for a cleanroom environment or inert atmosphere and at a maximum temperature of 150 °C. By using the same manufacturing process, the rapid electrical sintering (RES) method is demonstrated as effective for the fabrication of inkjet-printed, programmable Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) memories. Several hundred fully inkjet-printed resistors with different parameters were fabricated and subsequently morphologically and electrically characterized with the aim of obtaining statistically significant data. From a manufacturing process viewpoint, the procedures based on inkjet printing herein described are highly attractive: they do not require high temperatures, low pressures, special atmospheric conditions, and any masks, therefore providing a versatile low-cost approach to fabricate passive electrical components and simple circuits useful for the electronic industry. Printing can be carried out at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid damage to the fabric substrate and these devices can be used in a range of applications requiring flexible and conformal devices from embedded passive filters in PCBs to wearable electronics.