Topography of Thin Film Formed by Drying Silver Nanoparticle Dispersion Droplets

The topography of thin films formed by drying silver nanoparticle dispersion droplets was studied. The drying temperature and volume of droplets show significant effects on the topographies of the silver films. A critical drying temperature T c was identified in the film formation process: hill-like silver films are obtained when the drying temperature is lower than T c and ringlike films are obtained when the drying temperature is much higher than T c . It was further found that T c increases with droplet volume. Moreover, a theoretical model was developed to explain the silver film formation mechanism at different drying temperatures.