Highly Conductive Silver Thin Films Synthesized at Room Temperature Using a Continuous Flow Deposition Process

Silver has the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of all metals making it useful in various applications. The conductive properties of silver allow it to be useful in the production of electrical devices such as thin film transistors. Silver also has optical properties that make it optimal for use in various sensors. In this project conductive silver thin films were synthesized at room temperature using a continuous flow microreactor deposition process. The process utilized the silver mirror reaction to fabricate the thin films. There was no sintering process after the deposition or stabilizing agent added to the reactants. The thin films were found to have thickness that varied depending on the deposition period from under 100 nm up to 150 nm. Deposition times were collected between 1 and 15 minutes. The highest conductivity was measured at the same order of magnitude as bulk silver.