Korean Journal of Materials Research ISSN:1225-0562(Print) 2287-7258(Online) 한국재료학회지

We used an etching process to control the line-width of screen printed Ag paste patterns. Ag paste was printed on anodized Al substrate to produce a high power LED. In general, Ag paste spreads or diffuses on anodized Al substrate in the process of screen printing; therefore, the line-width of the printed Ag paste pattern increases in contrast with the ideal line-width of the pattern. Smudges of Ag paste on anodized Al substrate were removed by neutral etching process without surface damage of the anodized Al substrate. Accordingly, the line-width of the printed Ag paste pattern was controlled as close as possible to the ideal line-width. When the etched Ag paste pattern was used as a seed layer for electroless Ni plating, the line width of the plated Ni film was similar to the line-width of the etched Ag paste pattern. Finally, in pattern formation by Ag paste screen printing, we found that the accuracy of the line-width of the pattern can be effectively improved by using an etching process before electroless Ni plating.