A mild aqueous synthesis of ligand-free copper nanoparticles for low temperature sintering nanopastes with nickel salt assistance

An organic ligand-free aqueous-phase synthesis of copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) under an air atmosphere was successfully achieved by reducing copper(II) oxide particles with a leaf-like shape in the presence of Ni salts at room temperature. The resulting Cu NPs with a mean particle diameter of ca. 150 nm exhibited low-temperature sintering properties due to their polycrystalline internal structure and ligand-free surface. These Cu NPs were applied to obtain Cu NP-based nanopastes with low-temperature sintering properties, and the resistivities of the obtained Cu electrodes after annealing at 150 °C and 200 °C for 30 min were 64 μΩ∙cm and 27 μΩ∙cm, respectively. The bonding strength between oxygen-free Cu plates prepared using the Cu NP-based nanopastes reached 32 MPa after pressure-less sintering at 260 °C for 30 min under a nitrogen atmosphere. The developed manufacturing processes using the developed Cu nanopastes could provide sustainable and low-CO2-emission approaches to obtain Cu electrodes on flexible films and high-strength bonding between metal plates as die-attach materials for power devices under energy- and resource-saving conditions.

Structure and properties of K0.5Na0.5Nb0.96Sb0.04O3 piezoelectric ceramics doped by CuO

Envisaged through adding sintering additives to achieve low-temperature sintering preparation, in order to overcome the volatilization of sodium ions and potassium ions in the high-temperature preparation, so as to improve the density and electrical properties of KNN-based piezoelectric ceramics. This research uses traditional solid-state sintering technology, a high density, high properties lead-free piezoelectric ceramics, KNNSC-[Formula: see text], successfully prepared with sintering additives CuO. The modern test analysis of XRD and SEM shows that a moderate amount of CuO doped in the range of research can form a single perovskite structure of an orthorhombic structure, not found in any second phase, and can promote grain evenly growing and improve the sintering properties of KNN-based piezoelectric ceramics. The KNNSC-0.04 ceramics exhibit excellent electrical properties through various electrical tests such as [Formula: see text] = 238pC/N, [Formula: see text]= 47%, [Formula: see text]= 1049, tan[Formula: see text]= 2.4%, [Formula: see text] = 25.6 [Formula: see text]C/cm2, [Formula: see text] = 1.24 kV/mm, respectively. These test results show that the KNNSC-[Formula: see text] piezoelectric ceramics have great potential to be applied in middle- and low-voltage piezoelectric devices.

Effects of Kaolin Additives in Fly Ash on Sintering and Properties of Mullite Ceramics

The effective utilization of fly ash (FA) as a raw material for ceramics production is performed on the FA-kaolin mixtures containing kaolins 10% by mass. The mixtures in comparison with FA and three raw kaolins were annealed to mullite ceramics at temperatures of 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300 °C. The main aims were to contribute to the discussion on the effect of impurity of Na,K-feldspars in kaolins and Fe2O3 in FA on sintering procedure, porous ceramics properties and mullite structural properties. The phases were characterized using X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry DTA/TGA methods. Mercury intrusion porosimetry was used for characterization of porosity of ceramic samples. Results evidenced the influence of feldspars in kaolins and Fe2O3 in FA on the sintering temperatures and properties of mullite ceramics. The fully FA-based ceramic sintered at 1100 °C exhibited post-sintering properties of bulk density 2.1 g/cm3; compressive strength 77.5 MPa; and porosity, 2% in comparison with the FA/kaolin-based ceramics properties of bulk density 2.2 g/cm3; compressive strength, 60–65 MPa; and porosity from 9.3 to 16.4% influenced by Na,K-feldspars. The best structural and mechanical characteristics were found for the FAK3 sample, supported by the high content of kaolinite and orthoclase in the kaolin K3 additive. The FAK3 annealed at 1100 °C exhibited good compressive strength of 87.6 MPa at a porosity of 10.6% and density of 2.24 g/cm3 and annealed at 1300 °C the compressive strength of 41.3 MPa at a porosity of 19.2% and density of 1.93 g/cm3.

The Patterns of Phase Composition and Properties of High-Calcium Low-Density Ceramics Formation Based on Argillous Raw Materials of Various Chemical and Mineralogical Composition

The post-sintering properties of walling high-calcium ceramics based on clay-containing raw materials in low-temperature roasting depend on the chemical-mineralogical composition of clay with different contents of iron, calcium-containing and alkaline oxides that contribute to the formation of new crystalline phases, which provide for the production of low-density ceramic material with high-strength properties.

The Preparation of Ag Nanopaste with Silver-Plated Diamond by Low-Temperature Pressureless Sintering

Diamond/Ag nanopaste has been prepared by mixing Ag nanoparticles, silver-plated diamond particles, and an organic solvent system. Then, we characterized and studied the sintering properties of diamond/Ag nanopaste. Meanwhile, the impact factor of sintering temperature on the sintered microstructure of the diamond/Ag nanopaste on direct bonding copper (DBC) substrate was investigated. The influences of sintering temperature on the shear strength of diamond/Ag nanopaste connection layer for attaching silicon chip on the silver-plated copper substrate were analyzed. The results show that silver plating on the surface of the diamond can significantly strengthen the bonding ability between the diamond and nano-silver. When the pressureless sintering temperature increased from 150 °C to 350 °C, the porosity of diamond/Ag nanopaste decreased from 29.8% to 8.9%, and the sintered diamond/Ag joint with uniform and dense connection layer showed the maximum shear strength of 15.26 MPa as sintering at 350 °C.