Embedding of ultrathin chips in highly flexible, photosensitive solder mask resist

Abstract

This work presents an embedding process for ultrathin silicon chips in mechanically flexible solder mask resist and their electrical contacting by inkjet printing. Photosensitive solder mask resist is applied by conformal spray coating onto epoxy bonded ultrathin chips with daisy chain layout. The contact pads are opened by photolithography using UV direct light exposure. Circular and rectangular openings of 90 µm and 130 µm diameter respectively edge length are realized. Commercial inks containing nanoparticular silver and gold are inkjet printed to form conductive tracks between daisy chain structures. Different numbers of ink layers are applied. The track resistances are characterized by needle probing. Silver ink shows low resistances only for multiple layers and 90 µm openings, while gold ink exhibit low resistances in the single-digit Ω-range for minimum two printed layers.