Alcohol-based Tin Oxide Nano Ink Are a Game-Changer

Alcohol-based Tin Oxide (SnO₂) nano inks have several advantages compared to water-based or other solvent-based formulations, especially for printed electronics and solar cells.

1. Faster Drying and Lower Surface Tension

• Alcohols (IPA, ethanol) evaporate quickly, allowing fast film formation during printing.

• Lower surface tension (~20–25 mN/m) compared to water (~72 mN/m) → better wetting on hydrophobic or organic layers.

• Important for perovskite solar cells, where water can damage the active layer.

  
  

2. Compatibility with Sensitive Layers

• Water-sensitive layers (e.g., perovskite, PEDOT:PSS) degrade in moisture.

• Alcohol-based inks avoid water-related degradation, enabling low-damage deposition on these layers.

3. Reduced Agglomeration Risk

Alcohol solvents can stabilize nanoparticles with proper surface modification, reducing aggregation compared to water where strong hydrogen bonding can induce flocculation.

4. Lower Processing Energy

• Alcohol-based inks can dry at room temperature or low temperature (<150 °C) due to high volatility.

• Reduces energy consumption in large-scale coating (slot-die, blade, spray).

5. High Printability

• Alcohol-based inks generally have:

  • Low viscosity (2–5 cP) → ideal for inkjet, slot-die, and spray coating.

  • Good control of rheology → suitable for precision coating without defects.

6. Enhanced Film Uniformity

• Faster evaporation and lower surface tension reduce coffee-ring effect, giving smooth, uniform SnO₂ layers.

• Key for ETL in perovskite and organic solar cells for consistent device performance.

7. Less Hygroscopic than Water-Based

• Alcohol-based inks attract less moisture during storage and coating, improving long-term ink stability.

8. Compatibility with Organic Additives

• Many surface modifiers and stabilizers (e.g., ethanolamine, silanes) are more soluble in alcohol than in water.

• Enables better surface passivation and tailored electronic properties.

Alcohol-based SnO₂ nano inks are ideal for scalable, low-temperature, moisture-sensitive applications like:

• Perovskite solar cells (ETL) → avoid water-induced degradation.

• Printed electronics → good wetting on flexible substrates.

• Sensors and displays → fast drying, smooth thin films.