Pressureless sintering behavior of silver nanoparticles at low temperatures

Sintering and densification of 50 nm silver nanoparticles (NPs) pass through two stages. Solid state sintering at 250°C and below and liquid state sintering at 300°C and above. The dependence of neck growth at different temperatures and times during the solid state sintering is confirmed by SEM. The liquid state sintering forms a silver film with no porosity. Nearly 100% densification of the silver NPs and nonhomogeneous surface premelting of the silver film during the liquid phase sintering is confirmed by SEM. Copyright © 2010 MS&T'10®.