Gravure Printing of Water-based Silver Nanowire ink on Plastic Substrate for Flexible Electronics

Abstract Gravure printing is a promising technique for large-scale printed electronics. However, gravure printing of silver nanowires (AgNWs) so far has been limited in terms of resolution and electrical conductivity. In this study, gravure printing of water-based AgNW ink on a flexible substrate is demonstrated. By tailoring the ink properties, printing conditions and post-printing treatment, gravure printing enables printing of high-resolution, highly conductive AgNW patterns in large areas, with resolution as fine as 50 µm and conductivity as high as 5.34 × 104 S cm−1. The printed AgNW patterns on the flexible substrate show excellent flexibility under repeated bending. All these characteristics demonstrate the excellent potential of gravure printing of AgNWs for developing large-area flexible electronics.