SBIR Phase II: High Speed Laser Crystallization of Aluminum Doped ZnO Nanoparticles for High Performance Transparent Conductors

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于降低320亿美元触摸屏模块市场的制造成本，并消除稀土金属铟的使用。触摸屏模块用于移动的电话、计算机、销售点终端和其它显示产品。在触摸屏模块中生产透明导电膜的现有方法需要许多工艺步骤并且具有低产量。.通过使用更高速度的工艺和大大减少工艺步骤的数量，这种方法可以使触摸屏传感器薄膜的生产成本降低80%。第二阶段项目将进一步开发在大面积上生产图案化传感器薄膜的工艺，并与可用于制造的设备集成。分析表明，该工艺所需的新设备的资本支出的投资回收期将在一年内。该小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目将开发在玻璃上印刷铝掺杂氧化锌（AZO）纳米颗粒层的高速激光结晶（HSLC），以取代用于触摸屏行业的铟锡氧化物（ITO）。用于触摸面板的ITO层的溅射沉积多年来一直是行业标准。溅射ITO需要昂贵的真空系统，在ITO沉积期间生长速率缓慢。此外，触摸屏传感器需要使用缓慢且昂贵的光刻工艺步骤进行昂贵的图案化。铟是一种稀土材料，用于多个大批量市场，价格波动很大。第二阶段的研发将专注于生产图案化AZO薄膜和大面积工作原型，其品质因数高于行业标准触摸薄膜，预计成本结构低于目前大批量生产的能力。& HSLC可在节能环境条件下将纳米颗粒快速转化为具有上级性能的结晶膜。这种环境友好的工艺的优点包括高产量、高效率、高光学透射率和低成本。 技术成果还将推动可印刷电子产品在其他应用和市场的发展。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project lies in reducing manufacturing costs in the $32 billion touchscreen module market and eliminating use of the rare-earth metal, Indium. Touchscreen modules are used in mobile phones, computers, point-of-sale terminals, and other display products. Existing methods to produce the transparent conducting film in touchscreen modules require many process steps and have low throughput. . By using much higher-speed processes and greatly reducing the number of process steps, this method enables 80% cost reduction in production of touchscreen sensor films. The phase II project will further develop the process to produce patterned sensor films over large areas and integrate with equipment that scales well to manufacturing. Analysis shows that the payback time on capital expenditure for new equipment required by the process will be under one year. Cost reductions enable gross margin increases of 50% and make US-based manufacturing of touchscreen modules feasible.This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop high speed laser crystallization (HSLC) of printed aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticle layers on glass to replace indium tin oxide (ITO) for the Touch Panel Industry. Sputter deposition of ITO layers for touch panels has been the Industry standard for many years. Sputtered ITO requires costly vacuum systems with slow growth rates during ITO deposition. In addition, touchscreen sensors require expensive patterning using slow and costly photolithography process steps. Indium is a rare-earth material used in multiple large volume markets which has experienced high price volatility. R&D in Phase II will focus on producing patterned AZO films and working prototypes over large areas with a figure of merit higher than industry standard touch films with a projected cost structure lower than what is currently capable in large volume manufacturing . HSLC rapidly converts nanoparticles into crystalline films with superior properties at energy efficient ambient conditions. The advantages of this environmentally benign process include high throughput, high efficiency, high optical transmission, and low cost. Technical results will also advance printable electronics for other applications and markets.