70.3: Ink Jet Printing for Selective Conductor Processes for Displays and Flexible Circuits

We have developed a selective process for printing a metal catalyst doped ink and electroless plating a conductor on patterned flat surfaces as well as microlens embossed polymer films. The process involves control of surface energy of the films and patterns so as to channel the ink and the conductor between the patterned structures leaving the remaining areas unaffected and transparent. This is a low temperature process and very compatible with flexible substrates and R2R processing.