Direct gravure printing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle patterns on polymer foils

A direct gravure printing process for UV-curable indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticle patterns on polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate foils is presented for use as transparent electrodes. Both large-area coatings and patterns of ITO with thicknesses from 0.2 to > 1 μm and feature sizes on the order of 100 μm were realized with a sheet resistance down to 400 Ω□ and a transmission > 85% in the visible. In order to reach the lowest sheet resistance, a post-treatment under inert or reducing conditions at temperatures of 130 to 180 oC was used. Special requirements regarding the gravure printing of electronic material from nanoparticles and potential applications are discussed