Preparation and Properties of Copper Fine Wire on Polyimide Film in Air by Laser Irradiation and Mixed-Copper-Complex Solution Containing Glyoxylic Acid Copper Complex and Methylamine Copper Complex

Formation of copper wiring on a polyimide film by laser irradiation to a stable copper-complex film consisting of glyoxylic acid copper complex and methylamine copper complex in air has been investigated. A stable metallic copper on the polyimide film was precipitated even in air. Since this copper was generated only in the laser-irradiated parts, direct patterning of copper wiring was possible. It was also found that copper was precipitated by electroless copper plating on the laser-deposited copper wiring and it was possible to thicken the copper wiring by this precipitation. The resistivity of the copper wiring was almost the same as that of the bulk of metallic copper. The developed method—combining laser irradiation to a copper-complex-coated film and electroless copper plating—enables the high-speed deposition of fine copper wiring on a polyimide film in air by a printing process, indicating an inexpensive and useful process for fabricating copper wiring without high vacuum facility and heat-treatment under inert gas.