Characteristics of nano-sized silver-glass composite powders prepared by flame spray pyrolysis

Nano-sized silver-glass composite powders were directly prepared by high-temperature flame spray pyrolysis applying ultrasonic spray generator. The silver-glass composite powders with various glass contents had nanometer size, spherical shape and non-aggregation characteristics. The mean size of the silver-glass composite powders was 56 nm. The nano-sized silver-glass composite powders had pure Ag crystal structures irrespective of adding amounts of glass. The silver conducting films formed from the nano-sized silver-glass composite powders had dense structures at firing temperatures between 400 and 500 degrees C. The silver conducting films formed from the nano-sized silver-glass composite powders had lower sheet resistivities than those formed from the nano-sized silver powders irrespective of the firing temperatures. The sheet resistivities of the silver conducting films formed from the nano-sized silver-glass composite powders with 1 wt% glass content were 53, 16 and 11 m Omega/sq at firing temperatures of 400, 450 and 500 degrees C, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.