Solvent systems for metals and inks
Solvent systems and dispersions including such solvent systems for use in compositions including metals and inks are provided. In certain examples, the solvent systems may be used with capped metal particles to provide a dispersion that may be used to print conductive lines.
1. An ink, comprising:
a solvent system comprising at least one non-polar component and at least one polar component present in a ratio sufficient to provide a viscosity of about 10-12 cPs or a surface tension of about 30-32 dynes/cm to the ink at a printing temperature; and
hexadecylamine capped silver nanoparticles dispersed in the solvent system, the capped silver nanoparticles comprising at least about 18% by weight hexadecylamine.
2. The ink of claim 1 in which the at least one non-polar component has a dielectric constant that is lower than the dielectric constant of the at least one polar component.
3. The ink of claim 2 in which the at least one non-polar component comprises a hydrocarbon.
4. The ink of claim 3 in which the at least one polar component comprises an alcohol.
5. The ink of claim 2 in which the at least one polar component comprises an alcohol.
6. The ink of claim 2 further comprising at least one viscosity modifier.
7. The ink of claim 1 in which the solvent system provides a viscosity of about 10-12 cPs and a surface tension of about 30-32 dynes/cm to the ink at the printing temperature.
8. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-polar component comprises at least one of xylene and mesitylene.
9. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one polar component comprises terpeniol.
10. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the at least one non-polar component to the at least one polar component is in a range of about 4:1 to about 1:4.
11. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the solvent system includes three or more solvents.
12. The ink of claim 11 , wherein the solvent system comprises toluene, terpeniol and xylene.
13. The ink of claim 12 , wherein the solvent system comprises four parts toluene, one part terpeniol, and four parts xylene.
14. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the solvent system comprises butanol and toluene.
15. The ink of claim 14 , wherein the solvent system comprises four parts butanol and one part toluene.
16. The ink of claim 1 , wherein the ink comprises about 20-25% by weight hexadecylamine capped silver nanoparticles in the dispersion.
17. An ink, comprising:
a solvent system comprising at least one non-polar component and at least one polar component present in a ratio of about 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:2, 1:3 or 1:4; and
capped silver nanoparticles dispersed in the solvent system, the capped silver nanoparticles comprising silver nanoparticles capped with hexadecylamine or silver nanoparticles capped with dodecylamine.
18. The ink of claim 17 in which the at least one non-polar component has a dielectric constant that is lower than the dielectric constant of the at least one polar component.
19. The ink of claim 18 in which the at least one non-polar component comprises a hydrocarbon.
20. The ink of claim 19 in which the at least one polar component comprises an alcohol.
21. The ink of claim 18 in which the at least one polar component comprises an alcohol.
22. The ink of claim 18 further comprising at least one viscosity modifier.
23. The ink of claim 17 in which the solvent system provides a viscosity of about 10-12 cPs or a surface tension of about 30-32 dynes/cm to the ink at the printing temperature.
24. The ink of claim 17 , wherein the at least one non-polar component comprises at least one of xylene and mesitylene.
25. The ink of claim 17 , wherein the at least one polar component comprises terpeniol.
26. A printing system, comprising:
a print head;
an ink reservoir fluidically coupled to the print head and comprising an ink, the ink comprising:
a solvent system comprising at least one non-polar component and at least one polar component present in a ratio sufficient to provide a viscosity of about 10-12 cPs or a surface tension of about 30-32 dynes/cm to the ink at a printing temperature; and
hexadecylamine capped silver nanoparticles dispersed in the solvent system, the capped silver nanoparticles comprising at least about 18% by weight hexadecylamine; and
means for moving the print head.