Effect of Low Temperature on the Carbon- based Conductive Ink Resistivity for Flexible Printed Circuit

Abstract

Nowadays, it is known that printing methodologies can be used to print electrically functional devices on variety substrates includes organic or inorganic materials. Currently, printing technologies have been an attractive alternative printing method to fabricate flexible electronic devices, keeping to its advantages including easy handling, wide use and low cost. However, using flexible substrate open up new possibilities for printed electronic (PE), where certain applications expose the flexible substrate to a mechanical bending, which might decreased the performance or becomes a cause to a functionality failure. Moreover, developing of an appropriate ink at an extreme surrounding temperature with high conductivity and good dispersion of the ink-jet printing is one of the critical issues that need to be solved. Thus, the objectives of this study are determine the effects of cyclic loading on the elasticity and conductivity of carbon-based conductive ink after exposing to low and room temperature. The sample of conductive ink has been tested by resistivity test using 4-point probe after doing cyclic test. This study is focused on the conductivity behavior of printed conductive ink after being exposed to different temperature; low temperature at -6ºC and at room temperature of 26ºC. After being exposed to each of the temperature set, the cyclic loading test of 1000 and 5000 cycles each was carried out while non-cyclic sample was prepared as the bench-marking sample. From the cyclic test results, it is understood that the resistivity of printed ink at low temperature is lower than that of at a room temperature.