Liquid metal nanoprinting technology could revolutionize thin-film electronics

The new nano-printing technology, which uses a special alloy, “liquid metal,” as ink, makes it possible to produce electronic circuits whose elements are as thick as a few atoms. With the help of this technology, electronic devices can be created on large-area substrates, while the thickness of the device is determined only by the thickness of the substrate itself, because the height of the electronic circuit elements is about 1.5 nanometers (for comparison, the thickness of an ordinary sheet of paper is 100 thousand nanometers).

Of course, there are other technologies for producing thin electronic circuits. But in most cases, their final product is not very reliable, because some stages of the technological process are produced at high temperatures, of the order of 550 degrees and above.

The new nano-printing technology, developed by researchers at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, allows electronic circuits to be created that, due to their atomic thickness, are not subject to the constraints faced by traditional silicon semiconductor chip manufacturers. In addition, printed metal circuits are extremely flexible, opening the door to the next generation of flexible and thin electronics.

“None of the other technologies available can create such uniform, atomic-thickness conductors over a large base area. In addition, the new technology, due to its simplicity, is ideally suited to industrial production conditions, “the researchers write.

The key point of the new technology is the composition of the alloy of gallium and indium, metals with a low melting point. In addition, an atomic oxide layer is formed on the surface of electrical conductors from this alloy, which protects the metal from the harmful effects of air and substances contained in it. And reliable adhesion of the printed conductors to the substrate is achieved by pretreating the substrate surface with substances containing sulfur.

With the help of new technology, researchers have already created more or less complex electronic circuits containing a large number of transistors, highly sensitive photosensors and other elements. The tests carried out on these circuits have demonstrated their high reliability, which indicates the advantages of the new technology in relation to other similar technologi

es. Source: http://www.dailytechinfo.org