SBIR Phase I: High Throughput Silver Nanowire Manufacturing

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种用于生产高纵横比银纳米线的高通量制造工艺。导电纳米线在电子器件中表现出了显著的性能优势。这一点对银纳米线来说尤其明显，它被认为是透明导体制造中最有希望取代铟锡氧化物的材料。银纳米线也优于用于导电胶粘剂的银片填料，因为可以在显著较低的填充体积下形成连续的导电网络。这些应用的银纳米线技术成功商业化的一个障碍是生产电子市场所需的数量的能力。在第一阶段调查期间，将开发一种可扩展的高生产能力制造工艺，从而显著提高生产能力。严格控制反应条件的能力将带来高质量和高产量。适合制造银纳米线的高通量工艺的开发将是革命性的，使这种材料的生产规模能够满足电子行业的预期要求，并以负担得起的价格生产。该项目的广泛影响/商业潜力非常大，因为银纳米线代表了一种用于制造许多不同类型电子设备的新型置换技术。这种纳米材料的性能优于其他正在评估的替代透明导体中铟锡氧化物的候选材料，从而提供了竞争优势。就供应风险和对清洁能源的重要性而言，美国能源部(DOE)将铟列为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。性能得到改善的含太阳能电池板的银纳米线将提高这种绿色能源替代品的接受度。环境问题也指导着导电油墨、浆料、涂料和粘合剂的开发和更多使用，这可以使用银纳米线技术来实现，作为铅基焊料的替代品。通过所建议的方法，由于高生产能力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.