Formation of silver thin film on polyimide by reduction assisted by uv irradiation

Abstract

Formation of silver thin film on polyimide by reduction assisted by UV irradiation was prepared by first modifying surface of the polyimide film via hydrolysis reaction using potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. It was found that, after the surface of polyimide film was modified, silver ion could be absorbed to the film by ion-exchange process. Silver ion was reduced to form metallic silver by ultraviolet irradiation. In this work, 3 different irradiation procedures were used: 1) conventional irradiation, 2) water-assisted irradiation and 3) cycle irradiation. From the results it was found that cycle irradiation gave the thickest silver layer (511.88 nm) with diameter of silver nanoparticles of 28.31 nm. Silver layer grown by ultraviolet irradiation is still nonconductive, but it was also found that the silver coated on polyimide film by cycle irradiation procedure could be further coated by copper via electroless plating in strong basic solution.