Purpose This study aims to optimize the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing process for silver nanoparticle ink on alumina (Al2O3) ceramic substrates, focusing on improving print quality and reducing the electrical resistance of silver circuits. Design/methodology/approach This study systematically examines the influence of key process parameters (amplitude voltage, bias voltage, pulse frequency and duty cycle) on silver circuit printing quality, establishes a coupled electric field-hydrodynamics model via COMSOL Multiphysics to analyze the correlation between electric field distribution and droplet ejection, explores the effect of 160–200°C sintering temperature on silver layer densification and controls the number of printed layers to test electrical performance. Findings The optimal process parameter combination for the EHD inkjet printing process is determined as bias voltage 800V, amplitude voltage 1200V, pulse frequency 100 Hz and duty cycle 30%; the coupled electric field-hydrodynamics model established by COMSOL Multiphysics reveals the correlation mechanism between electric field distribution and droplet ejection behavior, thereby theoretically validating the rationality of the parameter optimization; eight-layer unsintered nanosilver printed lines sintered at 200°C exhibit a low resistance of 2.7O across a 20 mm length. Originality/value This study provides a parameter optimization scheme for the EHD inkjet printing of silver nanoparticle ink on alumina ceramic substrates; it establishes a coupled electric field-hydrodynamics model to support the optimization of the EHD inkjet printing process theoretically; it clarifies the effects of sintering temperature and the number of printed layers on the electrical performance of the silver circuit.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.