writer：Jihai Zhang, Tao Zhou,* Yi Xie, and Liang Wen
keywords：polymer, metallization, antimony-doped tin oxide, NIR pulsed laser
source：期刊
Issue time：2017年
In this work, we present a facile strategy for fabrication of precisely metallized patterns on polymer substrate based on the copper-free laser sensitizer through laser direct structuring (LDS) technology. A series of characterization methods are carried out to investigate the surface chemistry and morphology of polymer/ATO composites after laser activation and selective metallization. XPS results show that a small part of Sn4+ and Sb5+ in ATO is reduced to Sn2+ and Sb3+, and it doesn’t detect any Sn0 (elemental tin) after laser activation. Our study confirms that antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) is a good copper-free laser sensitizer and an efficient catalyst for selective metallization. Furthermore, the obtained copper layer is anchoring into the substrate leading to a superior adhesion property (highest 5 B level after Scotch tape test) between the copper layer and polymer substrate. Meanwhile, the obtained copper circuit line exhibits high conductivity (1.26×107 ?-1·m-1) and excellent stability over time. This study also provides a guideline to develop copper-free laser sensitizer for LDS technology.