Rapid sintering of silver nanoparticles in an electrolyte solution at room temperature and its application to fabricate conductive silver films using polydopamine as adhesive layers

Abstract

Here we demonstrate a new route to achieve the sintering of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) at room temperature. The as-prepared Ag NPs coalesced when they were immersed in electrolyte solutions, such as NaCl and MgSO₄. The square resistances of Ag NPs thin films decreased from tens of kiloohms to lower than 1 ohm after treatment with electrolyte solutions for 10 s. Conductive Ag NPs thin films can be created on various substrates coated by polydopamine, a mussel-inspired polymer, viasilver-plating followed by treatment with electrolyte solutions at room temperature.