Faculty Member:
Profs. Rick Ubic and Dave Estrada
The goal of this project is to optimize the synthesis parameters necessary to deposit and grow Ag(Nb1-xTax)O3 (ANT) thin films using inkjet printing approaches. Inkjet printing is a powerful fabrication technique that enables direct patterning of films for microelectronic devices. While inkjet printing has already been applied to the manufacture of some ceramic components, a number of conditions must first be satisfied concerning fluid properties and drop-placement accuracy. Boise State’s Advanced Nanomaterials and Manufacturing Laboratory (ANML) contains a suite of ink synthesis and relevant characterization equipment. We will produce phase-pure ANT powders via conventional solid-state reaction then ball mill the powder into nanoparticles ready for ink synthesis. The first challenge will be to produce stable ceramic suspensions with fluid properties such that they can be passed through an atomizer and form regular drops. The second challenge will be delivering the ink onto a substrate with drops sufficiently close to each other to allow interaction. The final challenge will be to dry and densify the printed inks whilst still avoiding Ag loss. Towards that end, we will use photonic flash sintering (Sinteron 2010, Xenon Corp.), which can heat the deposited films to sintering temperatures in milliseconds.
Role of Participant(s):
Participant(s) will synthesize various compositions in the Ag(Nb1-xTax)O3 (ANT) system via solid-state mixed-oxide methods and characterize them for phase-purity via x-ray diffraction (XRD). They will reduce the particle size of the resultant powder to ~200 nm via high-impact ball milling (Emax, Retsch GmbH) and add organic capping agents in order to produce a stable ink, which they will ultimately process through an inkjet printer (Dimatix) and flash sinter.