Fabrication of bimetallic nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites for microelectronic circuits Original Research Article

A method for the fabrication of electrically-conducting polymer composites has been developed by mixing modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized by bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag/Ni/MWCNTs) into a UV curable resin. MWCNTs were treated by a concentrated H2SO4/HNO3 mixture followed by ultrasonication with AgNO3 and NiSO4 in an ethylene glycol solution, producing MWCNTs decorated with Ag and Ni nanoparticles. The microstructure and surface morphology of the Ag/Ni/MWCNTs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. It was found that the addition sequences of NiSO4 and AgNO3 influence the morphology of the Ag/Ni/MWCNTs. The electrically-conducting polymer composites were obtained by dispersing the prefabricated Ag/Ni/MWCNTs in UV curable resin, the curing process of which was tracked by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the electrical resistance was measured using the four-probe method. The fabrication of microelectronic patterns made by screen printing on different substrates was described.