Sustainable Silver Ink Flexible Circuits Fabrication Using Direct Write Additive Manufacturing Techniques

Abstract

Abstract Conventional inorganic inks used to fabricate additive circuits pose a significant environmental challenge due to their toxic nature and non-biodegradable properties. There is a need for a more sustainable alternative for the realization of additively printed electronics. Water-based inks, made from renewable and biodegradable materials, have emerged as a promising solution. The study presented in this paper focuses on examining process-performance interactions for direct-write printed circuits and the attachment of surface-mount components. The authors investigate the ability of direct-write methods to create functional circuits while also exploring the effects of process parameters on the manufactured properties. Process recipes have been developed on a water-based sustainable silver ink applied to two different substrates (PET and Polyimide), and the impact of varying print parameters was compared among the substrates. The findings reveal the influence of print parameters on the mechanical and electrical properties of the printed traces, as well as demonstrate the additive printing of circuits and the attachment of surface-mount components using the optimal process parameters. Furthermore, the performance of a printed Active Lowpass Filter was evaluated using LTspice software. This research aims to demonstrate the viability of direct-write technology as a sustainable and viable alternative for the manufacture of traditional electronic circuits by successfully attaching surface-mount components to printed pads.