Preparation and properties of a novel electrically conductive adhesive using a composite of silver nanorods, silver nanoparticles, and modified epoxy resin

A novel preparation method for a high-performance electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) which consisted of silver nanorods, silver nanoparticles and modified epoxy resin was developed. Silver nanorods (100 nm in diameter and 5 μm in length) were synthesized by reduction of silver nitrate with ethylene glycol in the presence of Pd seeds and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). Silver nanoparticles (50~60 nm) were synthesized using N, N′-Dimethylformanide as the reducing agent and PVP as the stabilizer. The nanorods and nanoparticles were dispersed well and no agglomerate in the matrix. The volume electrical resistivity tests showed the volume electrical resistivity of the ECA was closely related with the various sintering temperatures and time, and the ECA could achieve the volume electrical resistivity of (3–4) × 10−5 Ω cm after sintering at 160 °C for 20 min. Moreover, the results showed the as-prepared ECA was able to achieve low-temperature sintering and possessed excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties.