Commercially available conductive inks are typically made up of precious metal nanoparticles, such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag). Thus, cheaper metals like copper (Cu) are currently being explored as alternative material. Though Cu has a comparable conductivity to that of Ag, they tend to oxidize easily when exposed to air and water, which could limit their application. In this work, oxidation-stable Cu nanoparticles with mean diameter as small as 57 nm were prepared by simple electroless deposition in water. Food-grade gelatin was used as stabilizer, which makes the process more economical and environment-friendly. In situ monitoring of mixed potential was carried out during synthesis to understand the kinetics of the reaction. The mixed potential of the solution shifted negatively as the amount of gelatin was increased. This suggests faster reduction rate.
Microfluidic Patterning of Metal Structures for Flexible Conductors by In Situ Polymer-Assisted Electroless Deposition