U.S. patent application number 12/360204 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for electrode and method for forming the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to YII-TAY CHIOU, Chun-Hsun CHU, Ying-Chiang HU, Bor-Chen TSAI.
Application Number | 20090133903 12/360204 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37910430 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090133903 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HU; Ying-Chiang ; et
al. |
May 28, 2009 |
ELECTRODE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME
Abstract
An electrode and a method for forming the electrode. The
electrode comprises: a substrate; and a plurality of metal
particles adhering to the substrate. The method comprises steps of:
providing a substrate; providing a solution including a solvent and
a plurality of metal particles on the substrate; removing the
solvent; and making the plurality of metal particles adhere to the
substrate.
Inventors: |
HU; Ying-Chiang; (Taoyuan
County, TW) ; CHIOU; YII-TAY; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) ; CHU; Chun-Hsun; (Tainan City, TW) ;
TSAI; Bor-Chen; (Tainan City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WPAT, PC
7225 BEVERLY ST.
ANNANDALE
VA
22003
US
|
Assignee: |
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
Hsin-Chu
TW
|
Family ID: |
37910430 |
Appl. No.: |
12/360204 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11324630 |
Jan 4, 2006 |
7501149 |
|
|
12360204 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
174/250 ; 29/874;
427/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49204 20150115;
H05K 3/1216 20130101; H05K 3/38 20130101; H05K 2203/121 20130101;
H05K 2203/0783 20130101; H05K 3/1241 20130101; H05K 3/102 20130101;
H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/250 ; 29/874;
427/123 |
International
Class: |
H05K 1/03 20060101
H05K001/03 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 6, 2005 |
TW |
094134909 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An electrode, comprising: a substrate; and a plurality of metal
particles adhering to said substrate.
12. The electrode as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of
metal particles are bonded with said substrate by chemical
bonds.
13. The electrode as recited in claim 11, wherein said substrate is
formed of a recrystallizable material.
14. The electrode as recited in claim 13, wherein said
recrystallizable material is a conductive polymer material.
15. The electrode as recited in claim 11, wherein said substrate is
a flexible substrate.
16. The electrode as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of
metal particles comprise a material selected from a group including
nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag), gold (Au) and combination
thereof.
17. The electrode as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of
metal particles adhere to said substrate by means of providing a
solution comprising a solvent and said plurality of metal particles
on said substrate.
18. The electrode as recited in claim 17, wherein said solvent
comprises a material selected from a group including methyl
benzene, phenol, aldehyde and combination thereof.
19. The electrode as recited in claim 17, wherein said solution is
provided on said substrate by a process selected from a group
including spin coating, ink-jet printing, screen printing and
imprinting.
20. The electrode as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a
thermal sensitive polymer material on said substrate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an electrode and
a method for forming the same and, more particularly, to an
electrode with a plurality of metal particles and a method for
forming the electrode.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Electrodes are conventionally manufactured by electroplating
or evaporation on rigid substrates using expensive equipments at
high temperatures. However, it is not easy for such electrodes to
be connected to other materials such as metal wires for module
integration.
[0005] A conventional method for forming an electrode is Taiwan
Patent Pub. No. 414,951 filed by TSMC, disclosing a method for
forming electrodes used in capacitors having dielectric with a high
dielectric constant. The method is as described in FIG. 1 to FIG.
6, comprising steps of: providing a substrate 11 (as shown in FIG.
1); forming an electrode defining layer 12 on the substrate 11 (as
shown in FIG. 2); forming an opening 14 in the electrode defining
layer 12 using photo-lithography with a photo-resist layer 16 (as
shown in FIG. 3); filling the opening 14 with a conductive material
18 covering the electrode defining layer 12 (as shown in FIG. 4);
removing the conductive material 18 outside the opening 14 (as
shown in FIG. 5); and removing the electrode defining layer 12 (as
shown in FIG. 6).
[0006] Accordingly, the conductive material is formed by
conventional chemical vapor-phase deposition (CVD), physical
vapor-phase deposition (PVD) or sputtering so that it has
difficulty being connected to other materials such as metal wires
for module integration. Meanwhile, the conductive material thus
formed cannot be deposited on a flexible substrate due to a
mismatched interface between the conductive material (mostly,
metal) and polymer. Moreover, the aforementioned process is
relatively complicated and costly.
[0007] Therefore, to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings,
there is need in providing an electrode and a method for forming
the electrode so as to reduce the cost, simplify the process, and
make it feasible to form on a flexible substrate at a low
temperature the electrode able to be connected to other materials
such as metal wires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide
an electrode and a method for forming the electrode so as to reduce
the cost, simplify the process, and make it feasible to form on a
flexible substrate at a low temperature the electrode able to be
connected to other materials such as metal wires.
[0009] In order to achieve the foregoing object, the present
invention provides a method for forming an electrode, the method
comprising steps of: providing a substrate; providing a solution
including a solvent and a plurality of metal particles on the
substrate; removing the solvent; and making the plurality of metal
particles adhere to the substrate.
[0010] Preferably, the plurality of metal particles are bonded with
the substrate by chemical bonding.
[0011] Preferably, the substrate is formed of a recrystallizable
material.
[0012] Preferably, the recrystallizable material is a conductive
polymer material.
[0013] Preferably, the substrate is a flexible substrate.
[0014] Preferably, the solvent comprises methyl benzene, phenol or
aldehyde.
[0015] Preferably, the plurality of metal particles comprise nickel
(Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag) or gold (Au).
[0016] Preferably, the solution is provided on the substrate by
spin coating, ink-jet printing, screen printing or imprinting.
[0017] Preferably, the method further comprises a step of:
electrically coupling the substrate to a circuit device.
[0018] Preferably, the method further comprises a step of:
providing a thermal sensitive polymer material on the
substrate.
[0019] The present invention further provides an electrode,
comprising: a substrate; and a plurality of metal particles
adhering to the substrate.
[0020] Preferably, the plurality of metal particles are bonded with
the substrate by chemical bonding.
[0021] Preferably, the substrate is formed of a recrystallizable
material.
[0022] Preferably, the recrystallizable material is a conductive
polymer material.
[0023] Preferably, the substrate is a flexible substrate.
[0024] Preferably, the plurality of metal particles comprise nickel
(Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag) or gold (Au).
[0025] Preferably, the plurality of metal particles adhere to the
substrate by means of providing a solution comprising a solvent and
the plurality of metal particles on the substrate.
[0026] Preferably, the solvent comprises methyl benzene, phenol or
aldehyde.
[0027] Preferably, the solution is provided on the substrate by
spin coating, ink-jet printing, screen printing or imprinting.
[0028] Preferably, the electrode further comprises: a thermal
sensitive polymer material on the substrate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The objects, spirits and advantages of the preferred
embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by
the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions, wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams showing a
conventional method for forming an electrode in the prior art;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a substrate and a
solution;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode according
to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a method for forming an
electrode according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0034] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method for forming an
electrode according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] The present invention providing an electrode and a method
for forming the electrode can be exemplified by the preferred
embodiments as described hereinafter.
[0036] Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram showing
a substrate and a solution. In one embodiment, the substrate 71 is
a flexible substrate. Preferably, the substrate 71 is formed of a
recrystallizable material such as a conductive polymer material.
The solution comprises a solvent 72 and a plurality of metal
particles 73. Preferably, the solvent 72 is an organic solvent
comprising methyl benzene, phenol or aldehyde. The plurality of
metal particles 73 comprise nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag) or
gold (Au).
[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode according
to the present invention. As the solvent 72 is provided on the
substrate 71 by spin coating, ink-jet printing, screen printing or
imprinting, the coated region (not shown) on the substrate 71 is
dissolved to recrystallize. Accordingly, the plurality of metal
particles 73 adhere to the substrate 71 by means of being
introduced into the recrystallized region. A conductive region is
thus formed as an electrode on the substrate 71. Alternatively, the
conductive region can be defined on the substrate 71 using
photo-lithography. Afterwards, the substrate 71 can be electrically
coupled to a circuit device (not shown). Furthermore, a thermal
sensitive polymer material (not shown) can also be provided on the
substrate 71 so that the substrate 71 provides heat conductivity
and thermal conductivity.
[0038] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a method for forming an
electrode according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In Step 91, a substrate is provided. In the present embodiment, the
substrate is a flexible substrate. Preferably, the substrate is
formed of a recrystallizable material such as a conductive polymer
material.
[0039] In Step 92, a solution comprising a solvent and a plurality
of metal particles is provided on the substrate. In the present
embodiment, the solvent comprises methyl benzene, phenol or
aldehyde. Preferably, the plurality of metal particles comprise
nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag) or gold (Au).
[0040] Then, the solvent is heated or air-dried to be removed from
the substrate, as described in Step 93.
[0041] In Step 94, the metal particles adhere to the substrate.
[0042] More particularly, since the substrate is dissolvable using
a solvent, the metal particles in the dissolved region of the
substrate can be introduced into the substrate during
recrystallization. Consequently, the metal particles are bonded
with the substrate by chemical bonding.
[0043] The electrode of the present invention is thus formed. The
method of the present invention further comprises a Step 95 of
electrically coupling the substrate to a circuit device so that the
substrate is used as an electrode.
[0044] Furthermore, FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method for
forming an electrode according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. Similarly, In Step 91, a substrate is provided.
In the present embodiment, the substrate is a flexible substrate.
Preferably, the substrate is formed of a recrystallizable material
such as a conductive polymer material.
[0045] In Step 92, a solution comprising a solvent and a plurality
of metal particles is provided on the substrate. In the present
embodiment, the solvent comprises methyl benzene, phenol or
aldehyde. Preferably, the plurality of metal particles comprise
nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), silver (Ag) or gold (Au).
[0046] Then, the solvent is heated or air-dried to be removed from
the substrate, as described in Step 93.
[0047] In Step 94, the metal particles adhere to the substrate.
[0048] More particularly, since the substrate is dissolvable using
a solvent, the metal particles in the dissolved region of the
substrate can be introduced into the substrate during
recrystallization. Consequently, the metal particles are bonded
with the substrate by chemical bonding.
[0049] The electrode of the present invention is thus formed. The
method of the present invention further comprises a Step 96 of
providing a thermal sensitive polymer material on the substrate so
that the substrate is used as a sensor device. In other words, the
substrate can provide various characteristics such as electric
conductivity, thermal conductivity, light conductivity, magnetism
permeability, or EMI immunity using different polymer
materials.
[0050] Compared to the method of the present invention, the
conventional method requires electrode pattern defining,
photo-lithography, metallization using CVD, PVD or sputtering, and
chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP).
[0051] Therefore, the method of the present invention has
advantages in:
[0052] (1) wide applications for both rigid substrates and flexible
substrate;
[0053] (2) lower temperature and lower cost without conventional
CVD, PVD or sputtering;
[0054] (3) feasibility to form on a flexible substrate an electrode
able to be connected to other materials such as metal wires and
devices.
[0055] According to the above discussion, it is apparent that the
present invention discloses an electrode and a method for forming
the electrode so as to reduce the cost, simplify the process, and
make it feasible to form on a flexible substrate at a low
temperature the electrode able to be connected to other materials
such as metal wires. Therefore, the present invention is novel,
useful and non-obvious.
[0056] Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated
with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved
are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be
apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *