摘要:
A method is provided of producing nanoparticles in the size range 1 nm to 1000 nm through the synthesis of one or more precursor fluids. The method includes providing a fluid medium comprising at least one precursor fluid and generating an electrical spark within said fluid medium to cause pyrolysis of said at least one precursor fluid in a relatively hot plasma zone to produce at least one radical species. Nanoparticles are formed by nucleation in the fluid medium in a cooler reaction zone about the plasma zone, where the radical species acts as a reactant or catalytic agent in the synthesis of material composing the nanoparticles. The spark is created by an electrical discharge having a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 1 kHz, and a total energy between 0.01 J and 10 J. The nanoparticles may comprise silicon, or compounds or alloys of silicon, and are typically useful in electronic and electrical applications.
摘要:
Apparatus for depositing ink on a substrate includes a nozzle defining an outlet for the ink, with at least a portion of the nozzle being electrically conductive. A first voltage source applies a first potential to the outlet nozzle. One or more auxiliary electrodes are located adjacent the outlet nozzle, and a second voltage source applies a second potential to the auxiliary electrodes. The apparatus includes a piezo-electric or thermal actuator for expelling ink from the nozzle towards a target zone on a substrate, the ink comprising a liquid vehicle and pigment particles dispersed in the vehicle. At least the pigment particles are electrically charged, typically due to the applied potentials. In one embodiment, an auxiliary electrode is disposed coaxially around the electrode formed by the nozzle. In another embodiment, an auxiliary electrode located beyond the nozzle, on a common axis with the electrode formed by the nozzle. The configuration of the nozzle, the auxiliary electrodes, and the values of the first and second potentials are selected to cause pigment particles to be concentrated in the target zone, so that a quantity of the pigment particles is deposited in the target zone having a higher concentration than the concentration of the pigment particles in the ink. The invention extends to a method of depositing ink on a substrate.
摘要:
A method of producing a temperature sensing device is provided. The method includes forming at least one silicon layer and at least one electrode or contact to define a thermistor structure. At least the silicon layer is formed by printing, and at least one of the silicon layer and the electrode or contact is supported by a substrate during printing thereof. Preferably, the electrodes or contacts are formed by printing, using an ink comprising silicon particles having a size in the range 10 nanometres to 100 micrometres, and a liquid vehicle composed of a binder and a suitable solvent. In some embodiments the substrate is an object the temperature of which is to be measured. Instead, the substrate may be a template, may be sacrificial, or may be a flexible or rigid material. Various device geometries are disclosed.
摘要:
An electronic component assembly comprises a printed component structure comprising at least one of a semiconducting ink, an insulating ink and a conducting ink deposited onto a substrate. The component structure defining at least one contact area, with a connecting lead disposed against or adjacent to the contact area. At least one layer of electrically insulating material encloses the component structure. At least one of the substrate and the layer of electrically insulating material comprises packaging material. The component structure can be printed on a substrate such as paper or another soft material, which is secured to a layer of insulating packaging material such as polyethylene. Instead, the substrate can be the insulating packaging material itself. Variations using hard and soft substrates are possible, and various examples of electronic component assembly are disclosed.
摘要:
An electronic component assembly comprises a printed component structure comprising at least one of a semiconducting ink, an insulating ink and a conducting ink deposited onto a substrate. The component structure defining at least one contact area, with a connecting lead disposed against or adjacent to the contact area. At least one layer of electrically insulating material encloses the component structure. At least one of the substrate and the layer of electrically insulating material comprises packaging material. The component structure can be printed on a substrate such as paper or another soft material, which is secured to a layer of insulating packaging material such as polyethylene. Instead, the substrate can be the insulating packaging material itself. Variations using hard and soft substrates are possible, and various examples of electronic component assembly are disclosed.
摘要:
A method and apparatus of producing inorganic semiconducting nanoparticles having a stable surface includes providing an inorganic bulk semiconductor material milled in the presence of a selected reducing agent. The reducing agent acts to chemically reduce oxides of the semiconductor material, or prevent the formation of such oxides to provide semiconducting nanoparticles having a stable surface, allowing electrical contact between the nanoparticles. The milling media and/or one or more components of the mill include the selected reducing agent. The milling media or mill are typically composed of a metal selected from the group comprising iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and aluminum, or an alloy containing one or more of these metals. Alternatively, the selected reducing agent includes a liquid contained in the mill during milling, which is typically an acidic solution containing any of hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric, acetic, formic, or carbonic acid, or a mixture thereof.
摘要:
A method is provided of producing inorganic semiconducting nanoparticles having a stable surface. The method comprises providing an inorganic bulk semiconductor material, such as silicon or germanium, and milling the bulk semiconductor material in the presence of a selected reducing agent. The reducing agent acts to chemically reduce oxides of one or more component elements of the semiconductor material, or prevent the formation of such oxides by being preferentially oxidised, thereby to provide semiconducting nanoparticles having a stable surface which allows electrical contact between the nanoparticles. The milling may take place in a mill in which the milling media and/or one or more components of the mill comprise the selected reducing agent. For example, the milling can be carried out in a high energy mill with a hammer action in which a pestle of the mill, a mortar of the mill, or both are composed of the selected reducing agent, or a low energy, stirred media mill, such as a ball mill, a rod mill or similar, in which the milling media, a lining of the mill, or both are composed of the reducing agent. The milling media or mill are typically composed of a metal selected from the group comprising iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and aluminium, or an alloy containing one or more of said metals. In another embodiment of the method, the selected reducing agent comprises a liquid contained in the mill during milling of the bulk semiconductor material. The liquid is typically an acidic solution containing any of hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric, acetic, formic, or carbonic acid, or a mixture thereof. The invention extends to a mill for carrying out the method.
摘要:
A method of producing a printable composition comprises mixing a quantity of particulate semiconductor material with a quantity of a binder. The semiconductor material is typically nanoparticulate silicon with a particle size in the range from 5 nanometres to 10 microns. The binder is a self-polymerising material comprising a natural oil, or a derivative or synthetic analogue thereof. Preferably the binder comprises a natural polymer formed by auto-polymerisation of a precursor consisting of a natural oil, or its derivatives including pure unsaturated fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides, or methyl and ethyl esters of the corresponding fatty acids. The method may include applying the printable composition to a substrate, in single or multiple layers, and allowing the printable composition to cure to define the component or conductor on the substrate.
摘要:
A method of producing a printable composition comprises mixing a quantity of particulate semiconductor material with a quantity of a binder. The semiconductor material is typically nanoparticulate silicon with a particle size in the range from 5 nanometers to 10 microns. The binder is a self-polymerizing material comprising a natural oil, or a derivative or synthetic analog thereof. Preferably the binder comprises a natural polymer formed by auto-polymerization of a precursor consisting of a natural oil, or its derivatives including pure unsaturated fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides, or methyl and ethyl esters of the corresponding fatty acids. The method may include applying the printable composition to a substrate, in single or multiple layers, and allowing the printable composition to cure to define the component or conductor on the substrate.
摘要:
A method of producing a temperature sensing device is provided. The method includes forming at least one silicon layer and at least one electrode or contact to define a thermistor structure. At least the silicon layer is formed by printing, and at least one of the silicon layer and the electrode or contact is supported by a substrate during printing thereof. Preferably, the electrodes or contacts are formed by printing, using an ink comprising silicon particles having a size in the range 10 nanometers to 100 micrometers, and a liquid vehicle composed of a binder and a suitable solvent. In some embodiments the substrate is an object the temperature of which is to be measured. Instead, the substrate may be a template, may be sacrificial, or may be a flexible or rigid material. Various device geometries are disclosed.