Abstract: An antenna and a formulation and method for making the antenna are disclosed. The antenna comprises: a first phase comprising at least one polymer; a second phase comprising at least one first component; and, optionally; and an interface between the first and second phases, wherein the interface has a concentration gradient of the at least one first component, whereby the concentration of the at least one first component decreases with distance away from the second phase towards the first phase, wherein the at least one first component comprises at least one functional component, at least one functional precursor component, or combinations thereof, and the at least one first component, in combination with the at least one polymer, has a high dielectric constant and/or a low dielectric loss tangent, wherein the antenna is a functional antenna, a functional precursor antenna, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor antenna.

Abstract: A copper-based ink contains copper acetate, 3-dimethylamino-1,2-propanediol and a silver salt. The ink may be coated on a substrate and decomposed on the substrate to form a conductive copper coating on the substrate. The ink provides micron-thick traces and may be screen printed and thermally sintered in the presence of up to about 500 ppm of oxygen or photo-sintered in air to produce highly conductive copper features. Sintered copper traces produced from the ink have improved air stability, and have improved sheet resistivity for 5-20 mil wide screen-printed lines with excellent resolution.

Abstract: A printable molecular ink that is can be treated (e.g. dried or curable) and sintered using broad spectrum ultraviolet light is provided to produce electrically conductive traces on a low temperature substrate, for example PET. The ink includes a silver or copper carboxylate, an organic amine compound, and may include a thermal protecting agent.

Abstract: A molecular ink contains a silver carboxylate, an organic amine compound, an organic polymer binder, a surface tension modifier, and a solvent. The ink may be used to produce conductive silver traces on a substrate for use in fabricating electronic devices. The ink is particularly useful for producing conductive silver traces on a shapeable (e.g. stretchable) substrate in a low temperature sintering process.

Abstract: A molecular ink contains: a silver carboxylate; and a polymeric binder comprising a polyester, polyimide, polyether imide or any mixture thereof having functional groups that render the polymeric binder compatible with the organic amine. Such an ink may have higher silver loading, lower viscosity and lower processing temperatures than existing silver inks.

Abstract: A composite material suitable for use in sensing and catalysis applications with conjugated polymers non-covalently bound to the carbon nanotubes. The conjugated polymers have alternating aromatic (Ar) units and bipyridine (BPy) units. Metal nanoparticles having a size that is between about 0.3 nm and about 5 nm are bound to the conjugated polymers at respective BPy units, thereby anchoring the metal nanoparticles to the carbon nanotubes. Thus, a metal salt solution was added into the polymer/carbon nanotube solution to form a metal-BPy complex, which is in situ photo reduced to metal nanoparticles. Therefore, the formed nanoparticles are tightly anchored to the nanotube and can be self-regenerated by room light to offer the material a high performance and durability.

Abstract: Functional and/or functional precursor products, formulations for making the products, methods of making the products (e.g. functional coatings, concentrated gradients, and/or composites), and uses thereof are provided. In an aspect, the method comprises a) combining at least one first polymerizable component and at least one second polymerizable component to form a composition; and b) polymerizing the at least one first polymerizable component to form at least one first polymer structure, wherein at least two phases are formed from the at least one first polymer structure and the at least one second polymerizable component, and wherein the product is a functional product, a functional precursor product, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor product.

Abstract: An antenna and a formulation and method for making the antenna are disclosed. The antenna comprises: a first phase comprising at least one polymer; a second phase comprising at least one first component; and, optionally; and an interface between the first and second phases, wherein the interface has a concentration gradient of the at least one first component, whereby the concentration of the at least one first component decreases with distance away from the second phase towards the first phase, wherein the at least one first component comprises at least one functional component, at least one functional precursor component, or combinations thereof, and the at least one first component, in combination with the at least one polymer, has a high dielectric constant and/or a low dielectric loss tangent, wherein the antenna is a functional antenna, a functional precursor antenna, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor antenna.

Abstract: A 3D printed GRIN device, the formulation and the method for making the GRIN device are disclosed. The GRIN (graded-index) device comprises i) a first phase comprising at least one polymer; ii) a second phase comprising at least one first component; and, optionally, iii) an interface between the first phase and the second phase, wherein the interface has a concentration gradient of the at least one first component, whereby the concentration of the at least one first component decreases with distance away from the second phase towards the first phase, wherein the at least one first component comprises at least one functional component, at least one functional precursor component, or combinations thereof, and wherein the GRIN device is a functional GRIN device, a functional precursor GRIN device, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor GRIN device.

Abstract: A molecular ink contains a silver carboxylate (e.g. silver neodecanoate), a solvent (e.g. terpineol) and a polymeric binder comprising a polyester, polyimide, polyether imide or any mixture thereof having functional groups that render the polymeric binder compatible with the solvent. Such an ink may have good thermal stability with higher silver carboxylate content.

Abstract: The present application relates to thin film transistors having a semiconducting channel comprising a network of carbon nanotubes that are electrically coupled to a source electrode and a drain electrode and electrically insulated from, but capacitively coupled to, a gate electrode, wherein a polymeric layer encapsulates the carbon nanotubes. The polymeric layer can comprise a first monomeric unit and optionally a second monomeric unit, wherein the first monomeric unit, the second monomeric unit and the relative amounts thereof are optionally selected to provide at least one target electrical property of the thin film transistor. The present application also relates to methods for manufacturing such thin film transistors as well as a methods of selecting a polymeric layer to provide a desired threshold voltage for such thin film transistors.

Abstract: Functional and/or functional precursor products, formulations for making the products, methods of making the products (e.g. functional coatings, concentrated gradients, and/or composites), and uses thereof are provided. In an aspect, a method for making a product is provided, the method comprising: a) combining at least one first component and at least one polymerizable component to form a composition; and b) polymerizing the at least one polymerizable component to form at least one polymer, wherein at least two phases are formed from the at least one first component and the at least one polymer. The at least one first component comprises at least one functional component, at least one functional precursor component, or combinations thereof, and the product is a functional product, a functional precursor product, or a combination of a functional and functional precursor product.

Abstract: A printable molecular ink that is can be treated (e.g. dried or curable) and sintered using broad spectrum ultraviolet light is provided to produce electrically conductive traces on a low temperature substrate, for example PET. The ink includes a silver or copper carboxylate, an organic amine compound, and may include a thermal protecting agent.

Abstract: A compound of Formula (0): where Ar is one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic units, R is independently H, F, CN, a C1-C20 linear or branched aliphatic group or a C1-C20 linear or branched aliphatic acyl group, and n is an integer 3 or greater, is useful for sorting and dispersing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and for producing printed electronic devices (e.g. CO2 sensors, TFTs) in which the CNTs are functionalized with the compound.

Abstract: A copper-based ink contains copper acetate, 3-dimethylamino-1,2-propanediol and a silver salt. The ink may be coated on a substrate and decomposed on the substrate to form a conductive copper coating on the substrate. The ink provides micron-thick traces and may be screen printed and thermally sintered in the presence of up to about 500 ppm of oxygen or photo-sintered in air to produce highly conductive copper features. Sintered copper traces produced from the ink have improved air stability, and have improved sheet resistivity for 5-20 mil wide screen-printed lines with excellent resolution.

Abstract: A composite includes a plastic substrate and an electrical insulator layer formed on the plastic substrate. The electrical insulator layer contains boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), which may be unmodified or modified BNNTS. The composite is suitable for use in making printed electronic devices. A process includes providing a plastic substrate and forming on at least a portion of a surface of the plastic substrate a layer that contains the BNNTs. A metallic ink trace is formed on a portion of the layer, such that the metallic ink trace is spaced-apart from the substrate. Using photonic or thermal sintering techniques, the metallic ink trace is then sintered.

Abstract: Processes for selectively dispersing semi-conducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs) in a solvent. One process comprises adding an amine either: to a conjugated polymer extraction process (CPE) of the sc-SWCNTs; or after the CPE of the sc-SWCNTs, in which the amine partially displaces the conjugate polymer associated with the sc-SWNTs dispersed in the solvent. Another process comprises adding an amine either: to a conjugated polymer extraction process (CPE) of the sc-SWCNTs; or after the CPE of the sc-SWCNTs, with the proviso that the amine excludes EDTA. Also, a process for displacement of a conjugated polymer from the surface of semi-conducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs) dispersed in a solvent, which comprises adding an amine either: to a conjugated polymer extraction process (CPE) of the sc-SWCNTs; or after the CPE of the sc-SWCNTs.

Abstract: A molecular ink contains a silver carboxylate, an organic amine compound, an organic polymer binder, a surface tension modifier, and a solvent. The ink may be used to produce conductive silver traces on a substrate for use in fabricating electronic devices. The ink is particularly useful for producing conductive silver traces on a shapeable (e.g. stretchable) substrate in a low temperature sintering process.

Abstract: A process for finishing a conductive metallic layer (e.g. a layer of copper metal) involves coating a molecular silver ink on the conductive metallic layer and decomposing the silver ink to form a solderable coating of silver metal on the conductive metallic layer. The molecular silver ink includes a silver carboxylate, a carrier and a polymeric binder. The process is additive and enables the cost-effective formation of a silver metal finish on conductive metallic layers, which both protects the conductive metallic layer from oxidation and further corrosion and allows soldering with lead and lead-free solders.

Abstract: A molecular ink contains a silver carboxylate (e.g. silver neodecanoate), a solvent (e.g. terpineol) and a polymeric binder comprising a polyester, polyimide, polyether imide or any mixture thereof having functional groups that render the polymeric binder compatible with the solvent. Such an ink may have good thermal stability with higher silver carboxylate content.