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个高通量的生产工艺，用于生产高纵横比银纳米线。导电纳米线在电子器件中显示出显著的性能优势。这对于银纳米线尤其明显，银纳米线已被认为是透明导体制造中氧化铟锡的最有前途的替代品。银纳米线也上级导电粘合剂中使用的银薄片填料，因为可以以显著更低的填充体积形成连续导电网络。用于这些应用的银纳米线技术成功商业化的障碍是制造电子市场所需数量的能力。 在第一阶段研究期间，将开发可扩展的高通量生产工艺，可显著提高产能。严格控制反应条件的能力将导致高的产品质量和产率。适合于制造银纳米线的高通量工艺的开发将是革命性的，并且允许以将满足电子工业的预期要求的规模和可负担的价格生产这种材料。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是非常大的，因为银纳米线代表了用于制造许多不同类型的电子设备的新型位移技术。这种纳米材料具有上级性能优于其他候选材料被评估为铟锡氧化物替代透明导体，提供了竞争优势。能源部（DOE）将铟列为供应风险和清洁能源重要性方面最关键的供应材料之一（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。改进性能的含有银纳米线的太阳能电池板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、糊剂、油漆和粘合剂的开发和增加使用，这可以使用银纳米线技术来实现，作为铅基焊料的替代品。由于通过所提出的方法的高产量制造能力和质量而降低生产成本的能力将导致基于银的导电复合材料的制造商和分销商的成本节省。

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.