Abstract: A conductive micro-wire structure includes a substrate. A plurality of spaced-apart electrically connected micro-wires is formed on or in the substrate forming the conductive micro-wire structure. The conductive micro-wire structure has a transparency of less than 75% and greater than 0%.

Abstract: A pattern of conductive micro-wires as in a conductive pattern can be prepared using photo-lithography, or imprint technology. A photocurable composition is cured to form a pattern of photocured micro-channels. A conductive composition comprising metal nano-particles is added to the photocured micro-channels and excess conductive composition outside the photocured micro-channels is removed. The conductive composition in the photocured micro-channels is then dried at a temperature of less than 60° C. The dried conductive composition in the photocured micro-channels is treated with hydrogen chloride vapor to form conductive micro-wires in the photocured micro-channels at a temperature of less than 60° C. The outer surface of the conductive micro-wires is then polished in the presence of water, to form a micro-wire pattern.

Abstract: A photocurable composition includes an acid-generating compound, a multifunctional epoxy resin, and an epoxysilane oligomer represented by the following Structure (I): wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group or an alkyl ether residue substituted with an epoxide, R3 is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, and x+y?2. The photocurable composition can be provided as a photoresist layer on a substrate, and can then be imprinted to form a pattern of micro-channels. These micro-channels can be filled with a conductive composition (ink) and used to form an entrenched pattern of micro-wires to provide a transparent conductive electrode.

Abstract: A pattern of micro-wires in a layer over which ink is to be coated to form micro-wires includes a substrate with first, second, and third regions. A plurality of connected first micro-channels, second micro-channels, and third micro-channels are formed in the first, second, and third regions having first, second, and third micro-channel densities, respectively. The first density is greater than the second density and the second density is greater than the third density. Thus, the density of the layer monotonically decreases from the first region to the second region and from the second region to the third region so that the ink coated over the layer is more effectively distributed.

Abstract: A micro-wire electrode structure having non-linear gaps includes a substrate and a plurality of intersecting micro-wires formed over, on, or in the substrate. The plurality of intersecting micro-wires includes first micro-wires extending in a first direction and second micro-wires extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The second micro-wires intersect the first micro-wires. The plurality of intersecting micro-wires forms an array of electrically isolated electrodes, each electrode including both first and second micro-wires. Each electrode is separated from an adjacent electrode in the array of electrodes by micro-wire gaps in at least some of the micro-wires, the micro-wire gaps located in a non-linear arrangement.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer micro-wire structure includes providing a substrate having a surface and forming a plurality of micro-channels in the surface. A first material composition is located in a first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. A second material composition different from the first material composition is located in a second layer different from the first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. The first material composition in the first layer and the second material composition in the second layer form an electrically conductive multi-layer micro-wire in each micro-channel.

Abstract: A micro-channel structure for facilitating the distribution of a curable ink includes a substrate and a single cured layer formed on the substrate. The single cured layer has one or more micro-channels adapted to receive curable ink embossed therein and an RMS surface roughness between or within micro-channels of less than or equal to 0.2 microns. Cured ink is located in each micro-channel. The thickness of the single cured layer is in a range of about two microns to ten microns greater than the micro-channel thickness.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer micro-wire structure includes providing a substrate having a surface and forming a plurality of micro-channels in the surface. A first material composition is located in a first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. A second material composition different from the first material composition is located in a second layer different from the first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. The first material composition in the first layer and the second material composition in the second layer form an electrically conductive multi-layer micro-wire in each micro-channel.

Abstract: A conductive article includes a metal nanoparticle composition formed on a substrate. The metal nanoparticle composition includes silver nanoparticles and a polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. The weight ratio of the polymer to silver is 0.0005 to 0.04.

Abstract: A method of making a conductive article includes depositing on a substrate a metal nanoparticle composition having water, silver nanoparticles dispersed in the water and a water-soluble polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. The weight percentage of silver in the composition is greater than 10%. The metal nanoparticle composition is dried. The dried metal nanoparticle composition is converted to improve the electrical conductivity of the dried metal nanoparticle composition.

Abstract: A metal nanoparticle composition includes water and a water-soluble polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. Silver nanoparticles are dispersed in the water and the weight ratio of the polymer to silver is from 0.008 to 0.1.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer micro-wire structure includes providing a substrate having a surface and forming a plurality of micro-channels in the surface. A first material composition is located in a first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. A second material composition different from the first material composition is located in a second layer different from the first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the surface. The first material composition in the first layer and the second material composition in the second layer form an electrically conductive multi-layer micro-wire in each micro-channel.

Abstract: A multi-layer micro-wire structure includes a substrate having a surface. A plurality of micro-channels is formed in the substrate. A first material composition is located in a first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the substrate surface. A second material composition different from the first material composition is located in a second layer different from the first layer only in each micro-channel and not on the substrate surface. The first material composition in the first layer and the second material composition in the second layer form an electrically conductive multi-layer micro-wire in each micro-channel.

Abstract: A metal nanoparticle composition includes water and a water-soluble polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. Silver nanoparticles are dispersed in the water and the weight ratio of the polymer to silver is from 0.008 to 0.1.

Abstract: A conductive article includes a substrate having a micro-channel. A metal nanoparticle composition is formed in the micro-channel. The metal nanoparticle composition includes silver nanoparticles and a polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups.

Abstract: A method of making a conductive article includes depositing on a substrate a metal nanoparticle composition having water, silver nanoparticles dispersed in the water and a water-soluble polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. The weight percentage of silver in the composition is greater than 10%. The metal nanoparticle composition is dried. The dried metal nanoparticle composition is converted to improve the electrical conductivity of the dried metal nanoparticle composition.

Abstract: A metal nanoparticle composition includes water and a water-soluble polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. Silver nanoparticles are dispersed in the water such that the weight percentage of silver in the composition is greater than 10%.

Abstract: A method of making a conductive article includes providing a substrate having a surface with one or more micro-channels having a width of less than 12 ?m. A composition is provided over the substrate and in the one or more micro-channels. The composition includes water and silver nanoparticles dispersed in the water and he weight percentage of silver in the composition is greater than 70% and the viscosity of the composition is in a range from 10 to 10,000 centipoise. The composition is removed from the surface of the substrate. The composition provided in the micro-channels is dried and converted to form one or more electrically conductive micro-wires.

Abstract: A conductive article includes a metal nanoparticle composition formed on a substrate. The metal nanoparticle composition includes silver nanoparticles and a polymer having both carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups. The weight ratio of the polymer to silver is 0.0005 to 0.04.

Abstract: A conductive micro-wire structure includes a substrate. A plurality of spaced-apart electrically connected micro-wires is formed on or in the substrate forming the conductive micro-wire structure. The conductive micro-wire structure has a transparency of less than 75% and greater than 0%.