Synthesis of SiO2/Ag Core-shell Nanoparticles for Conductive Paste Application

SiO2/Ag core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by combining modified Stober process and reverse micelle method using acetoxime as a reducing agent in water/dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DDBA)/cyclohexane reverse micells. The SiO2/Ag core-shells were studied for structure, morphology and size using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, SEM and TEM. The size of a SiO2/Ag core-shell could be controlled by changing the [water]/[DDBA] molar ratio (WR) values. The size and the polydispersity of SiO2/Ag core-shells increased with increase of the WR value. The resultant Ag nanoparticles exhibit a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 430 nm over the amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles. The SPR peak shifted to the red side with increase in nanoparticle size. Conductive pastes with 70 wt% SiO2/Ag core-shell were prepared, and the pastes were coated on the PET films using a screen-printing method. The printed paste film of the SiO2/Ag core-shell showed higher surface resistance than the commercial Ag paste in the range of 460-750 mu Omega/sq.