Large-scale fabrication of all-inkjet-printed resistors and WORM memories on flexible polymer films with high yield and stability
Eloi Ramón, Enrico Sowade, Carme Martínez‐Domingo, Kalyan Yoti Mitra, Ana Alcalde, Reinhard R. Baumann, Jordi Carrabina
Abstract
Abstract We report on the development of inkjet-printed thin-film resistors using both organic and inorganic ink formulations. The passive devices were manufactured on flexible polymer substrates in ambient condition without the need for a cleanroom environment or inert atmosphere and at a maximum temperature of 150 °C. By using the same manufacturing process, the rapid electrical sintering (RES) method is demonstrated as effective for the fabrication of inkjet-printed, programmable Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) memories. Several hundred fully inkjet-printed resistors with different parameters were fabricated and subsequently morphologically and electrically characterized with the aim of obtaining statistically significant data. From a manufacturing process viewpoint, the procedures based on inkjet printing herein described are highly attractive: they do not require high temperatures, low pressures, special atmospheric conditions, and any masks, therefore providing a versatile low-cost approach to fabricate passive electrical components and simple circuits useful for the electronic industry. Printing can be carried out at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid damage to the fabric substrate and these devices can be used in a range of applications requiring flexible and conformal devices from embedded passive filters in PCBs to wearable electronics.