Preparation of Reflective Silver Layers on Polyimide Substrate via Room Temperature Chemical Reduction Technique Using Hydrazine Hydrate as Reductant

Abstract

Reflective polyimide films were prepared by incorporation of silver ions in to the pre-hydrolytic layer of polyimide films, and subsequent treatment in hydrazine hydrate solution led to the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles, which aggregated and formed continuous silver layers on both sides of polyimide substrate. The maximum reflectivity could be detected up to 80% on the downside and 90% on the upside surface, respectively. It was found that more silver loadings in the downside modified layers resulted in the two-sides difference in properties.