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Projects: Summary of Projects by Region Projects in Region Scotland involving Heriot-Watt University : EP/L022192/1
Reference Number	EP/L022192/1
Title	Photosynthesis-inspired manufacturing of metal patterns (photobioform)
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 5%; Not Energy Related 95%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 25%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 75%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Professor M Desmulliez No email address given School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Heriot-Watt University
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	30 April 2014
End Date	29 October 2015
Duration	18 months
Total Grant Value	£173,061
Industrial Sectors	Electronics
Region	Scotland
Programme	Manufacturing : Manufacturing
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor M Desmulliez , School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Merlin Circuits (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	We have invented a new patterning process, which allows the formation of metal tracks onto non-conductive, plastic, flexible substrates, coating or powder such as polyimide or PEI (polyetherimide).The process takes place in air environment at atmosphere pressure using low cost equipment.The process involves the simple dipping of a substrate into a solution of potassium hydroxide, following by another dipping into a metal ions solution. The first dipping allows the opening of the imide ring chemical structure and insertion of the potassium ions into the broken chemical ring. The second dipping allows the swapping of the potassium ions with the ions of the electrolyte solution.A laser or a flood exposure equipment using a photomask can be used to reduce the surface metal ions resulting in a gradient of metal ions, then the ions diffuse into the depleted zone and reach the surface where they reduce. A mild electron-donating agent has been used to accelerate the reduction of the ions. A thin layer of metal nanoparticles is then formed using this simple process, which can be used for subsequent electroless plating or for sensing purposes. Our preliminary feasibility studies published in IEEE transactions in Nanotechnology have demonstrated the concept using a synthetic agent at the cost of long exposure time and damage to the substrate. We started using a bio-inspired material, chlorophyll extracted from spinach leaves, to speed up the photochemical process from 3 hours to 1 minute exposure using a blue light LED. We wish demonstrate that the use of chlorophyll can enable a truly manufacturing process that can be scaled up, and fully characterised for plastic electronics, PVs, moulded interconnects in electronics, sensing applications, in conjunction with additive manufacturing for multi-material manufacturing
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	16/12/13