Fabric surface activation using inkjet printing for developing conductive pattern through electroless plating

In recent years, the highly conductive patterned fabric has been field of interest for many researchers by focusing on medical and electrical application of flexible and wearable electronic devices. In the meantime, inkjet printing technology as a high precision technique has been extensively successful in flexible electronic device industry. Compared to other techniques, the ink jet printing is most preferred due to low process time, expenses, waste material and also its great capability for creation of flexible conductive pattern. In current study, the polyester fabric was employed for temperature and pH optimization in nickel electroless plating process. The fabrication process composed of three steps including the etching, activation and electroless plating. The etching process provides necessary condition for inkjet printing in activation step followed by electroless plating. The formation of a multi cavity structure on PET fabric after etching process and a continues metallic phase composed of nickel nano crystals(20-100nm) after plating process are two major finding from AFM, SEM and optical microscopic images. The four probe conductivity measurements showed a range of conductivity around 2632± 35 S/cm. Range of patterns including spiral or flat panels with applications in antenna and sensors show the technique perfection. The capacitance measurements also represent a range between 10-20 nF.