SBIR Phase I: High Throughput Silver Nanowire Manufacturing

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种高通量制造工艺，用于生产高纵横比银纳米线。导电性纳米线在电子器件中显示出显著的性能优势。这对于银纳米线来说尤其明显，银纳米线被认为是在透明导体制造中最有前途的氧化铟锡替代品。银纳米线也优于导电胶粘剂中使用的银片填料，因为在较低的填充量下可以形成连续的导电网络。银纳米线技术在这些应用中成功商业化的一个障碍是制造电子市场所需数量的能力。在第一阶段的研究中，将开发一种可扩展的高通量制造工艺，这可以显著提高生产能力。严格控制反应条件的能力将导致高产品质量和收率。开发一种适合制造银纳米线的高通量工艺将是革命性的，并允许以满足电子工业预期要求的规模生产这种材料，并以合理的价格生产。这个项目的广泛影响和商业潜力是非常大的，因为银纳米线代表了一种新的位移技术，可以制造许多不同类型的电子设备。该纳米材料在透明导体中替代氧化铟锡的候选材料中具有优越的性能，具有竞争优势。考虑到供应风险和对清洁能源的重要性，美国能源部（DOE）将铟列为最关键供应的材料之一（资料来源：美国能源部，关键材料战略，2010年12月）。银纳米线的潜在客户包括触摸屏显示器、平板或等离子显示器、有机发光二极管（OLED）和光伏太阳能电池的电子设备制造商。含有太阳能电池板的性能改进的银纳米线将提高这种绿色能源替代品的接受度。环境问题也在指导导电油墨、浆料、油漆和粘合剂的开发和增加使用，这些可以使用银纳米线技术来完成，作为铅基焊料的替代品。通过提出的方法，由于高吞吐量制造能力和质量而降低生产成本的能力将为银基导电复合材料的制造商和分销商节省成本。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a high throughput manufacturing process for the production of high aspect ratio silver nanowires. Electrically conductive nanowires have shown significant performance advantages in electronic devices. This is particularly evident for silver nanowires, which have been recognized as the most promising replacement for indium tin oxide in transparent conductor manufacture. Silver nanowires are also superior to silver flake filler used in conductive adhesives since continuous conducting networks can be formed at significantly lower fill volumes. A barrier to successful commercialization of silver nanowire technology for these applications is the capacity to manufacture the quantities needed for electronic markets. During the Phase I investigation, a scalable high throughput manufacturing process will be developed that can result in significant increase in production capacity. The ability to tightly control reaction conditions will result in high product quality and yield. The development of a high throughput process suitable for manufacturing silver nanowires will be revolutionary and allow for production of this material at the scale that will meet the expected requirements of the electronic industry and at an affordable price. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is extremely large as silver nanowires represent a novel displacement technology for the manufacture of many different types of electronics devices. This nanomaterial has superior performance to other candidate materials being evaluated for indium tin oxide replacement in transparent conductors, providing a competitive advantage. The Department of Energy (DOE) listed indium as one the materials in most critical supply with regard to supply risk and importance to clean energy (Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Critical Materials Strategy, December 2010). Potential customers for silver nanowires include electronic device manufacturers for touch screen displays, flat panel or plasma displays, organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and photovoltaic solar cells. Improved performing silver nanowire containing solar panels will enhance acceptance of this green energy alternative. Environmental concerns are also guiding the development and increased use of electrically conductive inks, pastes, paints and adhesives, which can be accomplished using silver nanowire technology, as alternatives to lead based solders. The ability to lower production costs due to high throughput manufacturing capacity and quality by the methods proposed will result in cost savings to manufacturers and distributors of silver-based conductive composites.