A green method for synthesizing novel nanoparticles and their application in flexible conductive patterns

A general and unified approach to synthesize Ag, Cu and Au nanoparticles (NPs) is developed at room temperature in air atmosphere under ultrasonication in poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) solutions with ascorbic acid and glucose as the reducing and nucleation agents, respectively. XRD, TEM, and HR-TEM analysis of the Ag, Cu, and Au NPs confirm purity and average diameters of 15.5 +/- 2.0 nm, 50 +/- 3.0 nm, and 10 +/- 1.0 nm, respectively. An ultrasonic-assisted mechanism, wherein reduction occurs readily and produces anti-oxidation particles, is proposed and discussed. Fast infrared sintering was used to avoid damaging the substrate of conductive patterns whose resistivity at 10 W (similar to 50 degrees C) sintering power for less than 6 min reached up to 10 +/- 0.5 mU cm, 40 +/- 3.0 mU cm, and 280 +/- 5 mU cm for Ag, Cu, and Au patterns, respectively. Paper-based electrodes were produced successfully and exhibited excellent flexibility and good conductivity. The potential of this method for large scale production is discussed. (C) 2020 The Chinese Ceramic Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.