JP6481236B2 - Electrode and touch panel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode and a touch panel.

  Along with the development of computers, computer auxiliary devices have also been developed. A personal computer, a portable transmission device, and other personal information processing devices perform text and graphic processing by various input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse.

  However, due to the rapid development of the information society, the use of computers tends to expand more and more, and it is becoming difficult to drive devices efficiently with only a keyboard and a mouse. Therefore, there is an increasing need for a device that has few erroneous operations and allows anyone to easily input information.

  Moreover, as for the technology related to the input device, high reliability, durability, innovation, technology related to design and processing, etc. have been attracting attention beyond the level satisfying general functions. In order to achieve such an object, a touch panel (Touch Panel) has been developed as an input device capable of inputting information such as text and graphics.

The touch panel is an electronic notebook, a liquid crystal display, a PDP (Plasma Display).
It is a device that is provided on a display surface of a flat panel display device such as Panel or El (Electroluminescence) and a display such as CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and is used by the user to select desired information while viewing the display.

  The types of touch panels are classified into a resistive film method, a capacitance method, an electromagnetic method, a surface acoustic wave method, and an infrared method. Such touch panels take into account signal amplification problems, resolution differences, difficulty of design and processing technology, optical characteristics, electrical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, environmental resistance characteristics, input characteristics, durability, economy, etc. And used in electronic products. Currently, the most widely used touch panels are a resistive touch panel and a capacitive touch panel.

  Moreover, regarding the touch panel, a method of forming an electrode pattern using a metal has been developed. When the electrode pattern is formed of metal, the electrode pattern has excellent electrical conductivity. In addition, the touch panel is required to have excellent visibility as well as excellent electrical conductivity. As methods for improving the visibility of a touch panel, methods described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.

In some cases, two or more electrode patterns that are electrically separated from each other are arranged adjacent to each other. In this case, since there is no electrode pattern between the electrode patterns adjacent to each other, this portion has higher light transmittance than the surrounding electrode pattern forming portion, resulting in non-uniform contrast of the display screen. There is a possibility that the visibility may be lowered.
In the invention described in Patent Document 3, in order to improve the visibility of the portion between the adjacent electrode patterns, the arrangement pattern and the number of the grids of the first electrode and the second electrode adjacent to each other are determined in advance. Visibility is improved by forming according to the rules.

JP 2014-63465 A JP 2014-63468 A JP 2011-059771 A

In the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, high printing accuracy is required to form an electrode pattern. Therefore, in order to increase the printing accuracy, it is conceivable to increase the interval between the sides of the electrode pattern. However, except for those that require exceptionally high resolution, there is no problem if the distance between the sides of the electrode pattern is increased, but if the distance between the sides is increased too much, humans can easily confirm the electrode pattern visually (visibility Is worse). Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the interval between the sides of the electrode pattern.
In addition, the configuration described in Patent Document 3 has a problem that visibility is not good because the repeated arrangement patterns of the grids of the first electrode and the second electrode are the same. In order to improve the visibility, for example, even if notches are formed, the first electrode and the second electrode are separated from each other in order to suppress the occurrence of an electrical short circuit due to defective printing of the electrodes. It is necessary to let For this reason, the visibility of the separated part is lowered, and it has been difficult to achieve both improvement in visibility and elimination of a short circuit due to defective printing of the electrodes.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, Comprising: It aims at providing the electrode and touch panel which can be formed easily and can improve the visibility of an electrode pattern.

  In the electrode of the present invention, a plurality of strip electrodes extending along the first direction and the second direction of the electrode forming surface are crossed with each other to form a lattice unit electrode pattern, and the unit electrode patterns are connected in large numbers. An electrode having at least a first electrode pattern region and a second electrode pattern region provided, wherein the first electrode pattern region and the second electrode pattern region are arranged adjacent to each other in an adjacent portion and electrically In the adjacent portion, the end of the strip electrode in the first electrode pattern region and the end of the strip electrode in the second electrode pattern region are separated from each other in the first direction and the second of the electrode formation surface. It has the overlapping part which mutually overlaps in the direction which cross | intersects a direction, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The overlapping portion of the strip electrode is characterized in that at least one of thickness and width is reduced as compared with other portions.

  The overlapping portion in the strip electrode is formed in a dotted line shape.

  A touch panel according to the present invention includes a transparent base material and the electrode described in each of the above items formed on the transparent base material.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrode and touch panel which can be formed easily and can improve the visibility of an electrode pattern can be provided.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the electrode for touchscreens and a touchscreen of 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the A-A 'line of FIG. It is the principal part enlarged plan view which expanded D area | region of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged plan view which shows the electrode for touchscreens and a touchscreen of 2nd embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged plan view which shows the electrode for touchscreens and a touchscreen of 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the electrode for touchscreens and a touchscreen of 4th embodiment.

Embodiments of the electrode and touch panel of the present invention will be described.
Note that this embodiment is specifically described in order to better understand the gist of the invention, and does not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, in order to make the features of the present invention easier to understand, there is a case where a main part is shown in an enlarged manner for convenience, and the dimensional ratio of each component is the same as the actual one. Not necessarily.
Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the electrode of the present invention, an electrode for a touch panel and a touch panel including the electrode will be described as an example.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a touch panel provided with electrodes for a touch panel in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a region surrounded by a dotted line D in FIG.
The touch panel 10 of this embodiment includes a transparent base material (substrate) 20 and a touch panel electrode (electrode) 50 formed on an electrode forming surface 20a that is one surface of the transparent base material 20. The touch panel electrode 50 is composed of a pattern electrode formed by intersecting a plurality of strip electrodes 30 with each other. Note that, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (not shown) or the like is disposed under the transparent base (substrate) 20 (lower layer).

  The strip electrode 30 includes a plurality of strip electrodes 30a extending along a first direction (referred to as L1 direction in the present embodiment) and a plurality of strip electrodes extending along a second direction (referred to as L2 direction in the present embodiment). 30b intersects at an angle θ to form a grid-like touch panel electrode 50. That is, a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 50 is formed by providing a number of rectangular unit electrode patterns S connected in series. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is, for example, 90 °, and the strip electrode 30a and the strip electrode 30b are orthogonal to each other to constitute a touch panel electrode 50 having a mesh structure (mesh structure). .

  The touch panel electrode 50 includes a first electrode pattern region E1 and a second electrode pattern region E2, which are two electrode pattern regions disposed adjacent to each other on the electrode formation surface 20a. The first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are electrically separated from each other. That is, the strip electrode 30 in the first electrode pattern region E1 and the strip electrode 30 in the second electrode pattern region E2 are not connected to each other. The first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 may be an electrode pattern to which a voltage is actually applied or a dummy electrode pattern.

  On the side where the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 face each other (adjacent), an end 30e of the strip electrode 30 constituting the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are formed. The end 30e of the strip electrode 30 forms an overlapping portion 30W that overlaps with each other in the direction intersecting the first direction L1 and the second direction L2.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern are indicated by an arrow V that intersects the first direction L1 and the second direction L2 and indicates the direction along the electrode forming surface 20a. When a portion adjacent to the region E2 is viewed, the end portions 30e of the respective strip electrodes 30 form an overlapping portion 30W that overlaps each other.

Such overlapping portion 30 </ b> W forms a region including the end portion 30 e of the strip electrode 30 formed integrally with the strip electrode 30. That is, the overlapping portion 30W is obtained by shifting the phases of the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 formed at the same pitch and approaching each other.
In addition, in this embodiment, although the formation pitch of the strip | belt-shaped electrode 30 of the 1st electrode pattern area | region E1 and the 2nd electrode pattern area | region E2 is made the same, the strip | belt-shaped electrode 30 of the 1st electrode pattern area | region E1 and the 2nd electrode pattern area | region E2. The overlapping portion 30 </ b> W can also be formed by changing the formation pitch of each other.

  According to the touch panel 10 having such a configuration, the end portions 30e of the strip electrodes 30 are overlapped with the adjacent portions of the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 that are electrically separated from each other. By forming the overlapping portion 30 </ b> W, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the adjacent portions between the electrode patterns from lowering than the surrounding portions. Thereby, an image displayed on the touch panel 10 can be seen more clearly, and the visibility of the touch panel 10 can be improved.

Examples of the transparent substrate 20 include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether sulfone (PES), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), Acetyl cellulose (TAC) film, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, polyimide (Polyimide) film, polystyrene (Polystyrene), biaxially oriented polystyrene (K resin-containing biaxially oriented PS, BOPS) Or the base material which consists of tempered glass etc. is mentioned.
Moreover, in order to improve the adhesive force of the transparent base material 20 and the electrode 50 for touchscreens, you may perform a high frequency process or a primer (Primer) process to the transparent base material 20. FIG.

The strip electrode 30 is made of, for example, conductive ink used for forming a conductive circuit. As the conductive ink, for example, polymer type conductive ink, silver ink composition, commercially available metal paste, metal nano ink, metal complex ink, and the like are used.
Further, as the conductive ink, it is preferable to use an ink containing metal particles whose particle diameter is smaller than the width and thickness of the strip electrode 30.
The strip electrode 30 is not limited to the formation using the conductive ink. For example, a known method for forming a conductor such as formation of a conductor by etching, formation of a conductor by vapor deposition of a conductive material, or formation of a conductor by sputtering can be employed.

  Examples of the polymer-type conductive ink include those in which conductive fine particles such as silver powder, gold powder, platinum powder, aluminum powder, palladium powder, rhodium powder, carbon powder (carbon black, carbon nanotube, etc.) are blended in the resin composition Is mentioned.

If a thermosetting resin is used as the resin composition, the polymer type conductive ink becomes a thermosetting type capable of forming a coating film forming a conductive circuit at 200 ° C. or less, for example, about 100 to 150 ° C.
Further, as the polymer type conductive ink in the present embodiment, in addition to the thermosetting type, known types such as a photocurable type, a permeation drying type, and a solvent volatile type are used.

  The photocurable polymer type conductive ink contains a photocurable resin in the resin composition and has a short curing time, so that the production efficiency can be improved. Examples of the photocurable polymer type conductive ink include, for example, a thermoplastic resin alone or a blend resin composition of a thermoplastic resin and a crosslinkable resin (particularly, a crosslinkable resin composed of polyester and isocyanate, etc.) and 60 mass of conductive fine particles. % Or more and 10% by mass or more of a polyester resin, that is, a solvent volatile type or a crosslinked / thermoplastic combined type (however, the thermoplastic type is 50% by mass or more), or a thermoplastic resin Or a blended resin composition of a thermoplastic resin and a crosslinkable resin (especially a crosslinkable resin composed of polyester and isocyanate, etc.) containing 10% by mass or more of a polyester resin, that is, a crosslinkable type or a crosslinked / thermal A plastic combination type is preferably used.

As the silver ink composition, for example, a composition in which a metal silver forming material described later is blended is used.
In the present embodiment, a conductive circuit is formed by solidifying the silver ink composition adhered on the electrode forming surface 20a of the transparent substrate 20.
The solidification treatment is performed by subjecting the silver ink composition adhered on the electrode forming surface 20a of the transparent substrate 20 to a heating (firing) treatment as will be described later.

In the silver ink composition, the content of silver derived from the metal silver forming material is preferably 5% by mass or more, and more preferably 10% by mass or more. By being in such a range, the conductive circuit formed by the method to be described later is more excellent in quality. The upper limit of the silver content is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present embodiment are not impaired, but it is preferably 25% by mass in consideration of handling properties and the like.
In the present specification, “silver derived from a metallic silver forming material” means silver in the metallic silver forming material blended during the production of the silver ink composition, unless otherwise specified. The concept includes both silver that subsequently constitutes a metal silver forming material, and silver and silver itself in a decomposition product produced by decomposition of the metal silver forming material after blending.

The metallic silver forming material is decomposed by heating or the like to form metallic silver.
In the present embodiment, the metal silver forming material may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When using 2 or more types together, the combination and ratio can be adjusted arbitrarily.

[Silver carboxylate]
Examples of the metal silver forming material include silver carboxylate having a group represented by the formula “—COOAg”.
The silver carboxylate is not particularly limited as long as it has a group represented by the formula “—COOAg”. For example, the number of groups represented by the formula “—COOAg” may be only one, or two or more. Further, the position of the group represented by the formula “—COOAg” in the silver carboxylate is not particularly limited.

  The silver carboxylate is represented by the following general formula (1) β-ketocarboxylate (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “β-ketocarboxylate (1)”) and the following general formula (2). It is preferable that it is 1 or more types selected from the group which consists of silver carboxylate (henceforth abbreviated as "silver carboxylate (2)").

  In the present specification, the description of mere "silver carboxylate" is not limited to "silver β-ketocarboxylate (1)" and "silver carboxylate (2)" unless otherwise specified. It is intended to mean “silver carboxylate having a group represented by the formula“ —COOAg ””.

(In the formula, R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent, a phenyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, or a group represented by the general formula “R ¹ -CY “ _2- ”, “CY ₃ —”, “R ¹ —CHY—”, “R ² O—”, “R ⁵ R ⁴ N—”, “(R ³ O) ₂ CY—” or “R ⁶ —C”. A group represented by (= O) —CY ₂ —;
Y is independently a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or a hydrogen atom; R ¹ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; R ² is an aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms R ³ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms; R ⁴ and R ⁵ are each independently an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R ⁶ is carbon An aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a hydroxyl group or a group represented by the formula “AgO—” having a number of 1 to 19;
X is each independently a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a phenyl group or benzyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent, a cyano group, N- A phthaloyl-3-aminopropyl group, a 2-ethoxyvinyl group, or a general formula “R ⁷ O—”, “R ⁷ S—”, “R ⁷ —C (═O) —” or “R ⁷ —C (= O) —O— ”.
R ⁷ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a thienyl group, or a phenyl group or diphenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent. )

Wherein R ⁸ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, a carboxy group or a group represented by the formula “—C (═O) —OAg”, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon group is a methylene group. And one or more of the methylene groups may be substituted with a carbonyl group.)

(Silver β-ketocarboxylate (1))
The β-ketocarboxylate silver (1) is represented by the general formula (1).
In the formula, R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, or a general formula “R ¹ -CY ₂ ” in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent. - "," CY ₃ - "," ^R 1 -CHY - "," ^{R 2} O - "," ^R 5 ^{R 4} N -, "" ^(R _{3 O)} 2 CY- "or" ^R 6 -C ( ═O) —CY ₂ — ”.

The aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms in R may be any of linear, branched and cyclic (aliphatic cyclic group), and when it is cyclic, it may be monocyclic or polycyclic. .
The aliphatic hydrocarbon group may be either a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group. The aliphatic hydrocarbon group preferably has 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Preferred examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an alkynyl group.

Examples of the linear or branched alkyl group represented by R include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n -Pentyl group, isopentyl group, neopentyl group, tert-pentyl group, 1-methylbutyl group, 2-methylbutyl group, n-hexyl group, 1-methylpentyl group, 2-methylpentyl group, 3-methylpentyl group, 4- Methylpentyl group, 1,1-dimethylbutyl group, 2,2-dimethylbutyl group, 3,3-dimethylbutyl group, 2,3-dimethylbutyl group, 1-ethylbutyl group, 2-ethylbutyl group, 3-ethylbutyl group 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl group, n-heptyl group, 1-methylhexyl group, 2-methylhexyl group, 3-methylhexyl group 4-methylhexyl group, 5-methylhexyl group, 1,1-dimethylpentyl group, 2,2-dimethylpentyl group, 2,3-dimethylpentyl group, 2,4-dimethylpentyl group, 3,3-dimethylpentyl Group, 4,4-dimethylpentyl group, 1-ethylpentyl group, 2-ethylpentyl group, 3-ethylpentyl group, 4-ethylpentyl group, 2,2,3-trimethylbutyl group, 1-propylbutyl group, n-octyl group, isooctyl group, 1-methylheptyl group, 2-methylheptyl group, 3-methylheptyl group, 4-methylheptyl group, 5-methylheptyl group, 1-ethylhexyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, 3- Ethylhexyl group, 4-ethylhexyl group, 5-ethylhexyl group, 1,1-dimethylhexyl group, 2,2-dimethylhexyl group, 3 3-dimethylhexyl group, 4,4-dimethylhexyl group, 5,5-dimethylhexyl group, 1-propylpentyl group, 2-propylpentyl group, nonyl group, decyl group, undecyl group, dodecyl group, tridecyl group, tetradecyl group Group, pentadecyl group, hexadecyl group, heptadecyl group, octadecyl group, nonadecyl group and icosyl group.
Examples of the cyclic alkyl group in R include cyclopropyl group, cyclobutyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, cycloheptyl group, cyclooctyl group, cyclononyl group, cyclodecyl group, norbornyl group, isobornyl group, 1-adamantyl group, 2- Examples thereof include an adamantyl group and a tricyclodecyl group.

Examples of the alkenyl group in R include a vinyl group (ethenyl group, —CH═CH ₂ ), an allyl group (2-propenyl group, —CH ₂ —CH═CH ₂ ), and a 1-propenyl group (—CH═CH—CH). ₃ ), isopropenyl group (—C (CH ₃ ) ═CH ₂ ), 1-butenyl group (—CH═CH—CH ₂ —CH ₃ ), 2-butenyl group (—CH ₂ —CH═CH—CH _3). ), 3-butenyl group (—CH ₂ —CH ₂ —CH═CH ₂ ), cyclohexenyl group, cyclopentenyl group and the like, one single bond (C—C) between carbon atoms of the alkyl group in R Is a group substituted with a double bond (C═C).
As the alkynyl group in R, one single bond (C—C) between carbon atoms of the alkyl group in R, such as ethynyl group (—C≡CH), propargyl group (—CH ₂ —C≡CH) and the like. ) Is a group in which a triple bond (C≡C) is substituted.

  In the aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms in R, one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent, and preferred examples of the substituent include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, and a bromine atom. . Further, the number and position of substituents are not particularly limited. When the number of substituents is plural, the plural substituents may be the same as or different from each other. That is, all the substituents may be the same, all the substituents may be different, or only some of the substituents may be different.

In the phenyl group in R, one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent, and the preferable substituent is a saturated or unsaturated monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms. , A monovalent group formed by bonding the aliphatic hydrocarbon group to an oxygen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a hydroxyl group (—OH), a cyano group (—C≡N), a phenoxy group (—O— C ₆ H ₅ ) and the like can be exemplified, and the number and position of substituents are not particularly limited. When the number of substituents is plural, the plural substituents may be the same as or different from each other.
Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group as a substituent include the same aliphatic hydrocarbon groups as those described above for R except that the number of carbon atoms is 1 to 16.

Y in R each independently represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or a hydrogen atom. In the general formulas “R ¹ —CY ₂ —”, “CY ₃ —”, and “R ⁶ —C (═O) —CY ₂ —”, a plurality of Y may be the same or different from each other. Good.

R ¹ in R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms or a phenyl group (C ₆ H ₅ —), and the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R ¹ has 1 to 19 carbon atoms. Except for this point, the same aliphatic hydrocarbon groups as those in R can be exemplified.
R ² in R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and examples thereof are the same as the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R.
R ³ in R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and examples thereof are the same as the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R except that the carbon number is 1 to 16.
R ⁴ and R ⁵ in R are each independently an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms. That is, R ⁴ and R ⁵ may be the same as or different from each other, and examples thereof are the same as the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R except that the number of carbon atoms is 1 to 18.
R ⁶ in R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl group or a group represented by the formula “AgO—”, and the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R ⁶ has 1 to 1 carbon atoms. Except for being 19, it is possible to exemplify the same as the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R.

Among these, R is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group, a group represented by the general formula “R ⁶ —C (═O) —CY ₂ —”, a hydroxyl group, or a phenyl group. . R ⁶ is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, or a group represented by the formula “AgO—”.

In general formula (1), each X is independently a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a phenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent, or benzyl A group (C ₆ H ₅ —CH ₂ —), a cyano group, an N-phthaloyl-3-aminopropyl group, a 2-ethoxyvinyl group (C ₂ H ₅ —O—CH═CH—), or the general formula “R ⁷ It is a group represented by “O—”, “R ⁷ S—”, “R ⁷ —C (═O) —” or “R ⁷ —C (═O) —O—”.
Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms in X include those similar to the aliphatic hydrocarbon group in R.

Examples of the halogen atom in X include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.
In the phenyl group and benzyl group in X, one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent. Preferred examples of the substituent include a halogen atom (fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom), nitro group can be exemplified a (-NO ₂₎ or the like, the number and position of the substituent is not particularly limited. When the number of substituents is plural, the plural substituents may be the same as or different from each other.

R ^{7 in} X is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a thienyl group (C ₄ H ₃ S—), or a phenyl group or diphenyl in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent. group (biphenyl _{group, C 6 H 5 -C 6 H} 4 -) it is. Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R ⁷ include those similar to the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R except that the aliphatic hydrocarbon group has 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Further, examples of the substituent of the phenyl group and a diphenyl group in R ^7, halogen atom (fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom) can be exemplified the like, the number and position of the substituent is not particularly limited. When the number of substituents is plural, the plural substituents may be the same as or different from each other.
When R ⁷ is a thienyl group or a diphenyl group, the bonding position of these with an adjacent group or atom (oxygen atom, sulfur atom, carbonyl group, carbonyloxy group) in X is not particularly limited. For example, the thienyl group may be either a 2-thienyl group or a 3-thienyl group.

In the general formula (1), two Xs may be bonded as one group through a double bond with a carbon atom sandwiched between two carbonyl groups. A group represented by “═CH—C ₆ H ₄ —NO ₂ ” can be exemplified.

  Among them, X is preferably a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group, or a benzyl group, and at least one X is preferably a hydrogen atom.

The silver β-ketocarboxylate (1) is silver 2-methylacetoacetate (CH ₃ —C (═O) —CH (CH ₃ ) —C (═O) —OAg), silver acetoacetate (CH ₃ —C ( _{= O) -CH 2 -C (=} O) -OAg), 2- ethylacetoacetate silver _{(CH 3 -C (= O)} -CH (CH 2 CH 3) -C (= O) -OAg), propionylacetate silver _{(CH 3 CH 2 -C (=} O) -CH 2 -C (= O) -OAg), 2-n- Buchiruaseto silver acetate _{(CH 3 -C (= O)} -CH (CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 _{CH 3) -C (= O)} -OAg), 2- benzyl acetoacetate silver _{(CH 3 -C (= O)} -CH (CH 2 C 6 H 5) -C (= O) -OAg), benzoyl acetate silver _{(C 6 H 5 -C (=} O) -CH 2 -C (= O) -OAg), Pibaroiruaseto silver acetate ((C _{H 3) 3 C-C (} = O) -CH 2 -C (= O) -CH 2 -C (= O) -OAg), isobutyryl acetoacetate silver _{((CH 3) 2 CH-} C (= O) —CH ₂ —C (═O) —CH ₂ —C (═O) —OAg), or silver acetone dicarboxylate (AgO—C (═O) —CH ₂ —C (═O) —CH ₂ — C (= O) -OAg) is preferred.

  The β-ketocarboxylate (1) can further reduce the concentration of the remaining raw materials and impurities in the conductor (metal silver) formed by post-treatment such as drying treatment or heating (firing) treatment. The smaller the raw materials and impurities, for example, the better the contact between the formed metal silvers, the easier the conduction, and the lower the resistivity.

  The β-ketocarboxylate (1) is preferably decomposed at a low temperature of 60 ° C. to 210 ° C., more preferably 60 ° C. to 200 ° C., without using a reducing agent known in the art, as will be described later. In addition, metallic silver can be formed. And by using together with a reducing agent, it decomposes at a lower temperature to form metallic silver.

  In this embodiment, β-ketocarboxylate (1) may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When using 2 or more types together, the combination and ratio can be adjusted arbitrarily.

(Silver carboxylate (2))
The silver carboxylate (2) is represented by the general formula (2).
In the formula, R ⁸ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, a carboxy group (—COOH), or a group represented by the formula “—C (═O) —OAg”.
Examples of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R ⁸ include those similar to the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R except that the aliphatic hydrocarbon group has 1 to 19 carbon atoms. However, the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R ⁸ preferably has 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

When the aliphatic hydrocarbon group for R ⁸ has a methylene group (—CH ₂ —), one or more of the methylene groups may be substituted with a carbonyl group. The number and position of the methylene group which may be substituted with a carbonyl group are not particularly limited, and all methylene groups may be substituted with a carbonyl group. Here, the “methylene group” is not only a single group represented by the formula “—CH ₂ —” but also one alkylene group in which a plurality of groups represented by the formula “—CH ₂ —” are linked. And a group represented by the formula “—CH ₂ —”.

Silver carboxylate (2) includes silver pyruvate (CH ₃ —C (═O) —C (═O) —OAg), silver acetate (CH ₃ —C (═O) —OAg), silver butyrate (CH _{3 - (CH 2) 2 -C (} = O) -OAg), isobutyric acid silver _{((CH 3) 2 CH-} C (= O) -OAg), hexane silver 2-ethylhexyl _(CH 3 - _{(CH 2} ) ₃ —CH (CH ₂ CH ₃ ) —C (═O) —OAg), silver neodecanoate (CH ₃ — (CH ₂ ) ₅ —C (CH ₃ ) ₂ —C (═O) —OAg), Shu It is preferably silver oxide (AgO—C (═O) —C (═O) —OAg) or silver malonate (AgO—C (═O) —CH ₂ —C (═O) —OAg). In addition, silver oxalate (AgO—C (═O) —C (═O) —OAg) and silver malonate (AgO—C (═O) —CH ₂ —C (═O) —OAg) 2 Of the groups represented by the formula “—COOAg”, one is a group represented by the formula “—COOH” (HO—C (═O) —C (═O) —OAg, HO) _{-C (= O) -CH 2 -C} (= O) -OAg) it is also preferred.

  As in the case of silver β-ketocarboxylate (1), silver carboxylate (2) is also used in the conductor (metal silver) formed by post-treatment such as drying treatment or heating (firing) treatment. The concentration can be further reduced. And by using together with a reducing agent, it decomposes at a lower temperature to form metallic silver.

  In this embodiment, silver carboxylate (2) may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together. When using 2 or more types together, the combination and ratio can be adjusted arbitrarily.

[Nitrogen-containing compounds]
The silver ink composition, in particular, when the metal silver forming material is the silver carboxylate, in addition to the metal silver forming material, an amine compound having a carbon number of 25 or less, a quaternary ammonium salt, ammonia, and the above One or more nitrogen-containing compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts formed by reaction of amine compounds or ammonia with acids (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “nitrogen-containing compounds”) Is preferred.

  Hereinafter, an amine compound having 25 or less carbon atoms is referred to as “amine compound”, a quaternary ammonium salt having 25 or less carbon atoms is referred to as “quaternary ammonium salt”, and an ammonium salt obtained by reacting an amine compound having 25 or less carbon atoms with an acid. Is sometimes abbreviated as “ammonium salt derived from an amine compound”, and an ammonium salt formed by reacting ammonia with an acid is sometimes abbreviated as “ammonium salt derived from ammonia”.

(Amine compound, quaternary ammonium salt)
The amine compound has 1 to 25 carbon atoms, and may be any of primary amine, secondary amine, and tertiary amine. The quaternary ammonium salt has 4 to 25 carbon atoms. The amine compound and the quaternary ammonium salt may be either chain or cyclic. Further, the number of nitrogen atoms constituting the amine moiety or ammonium salt moiety (for example, the nitrogen atom constituting the amino group (—NH ₂ ) of the primary amine) may be one, or two or more.

  Examples of the primary amine include monoalkylamines, monoarylamines, mono (heteroaryl) amines, and diamines in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.

  The alkyl group constituting the monoalkylamine may be linear, branched or cyclic, and examples thereof are the same as the alkyl group in R, and are linear or branched having 1 to 19 carbon atoms. It is preferably a chain alkyl group or a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 7 carbon atoms.

  Specific examples of preferable monoalkylamine include n-butylamine, n-hexylamine, n-octylamine, n-dodecylamine, n-octadecylamine, sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, 3-aminopentane, 3 Examples include -methylbutylamine, 2-aminooctane, 2-ethylhexylamine, and 1,2-dimethyl-n-propylamine.

  Examples of the aryl group constituting the monoarylamine include a phenyl group, a 1-naphthyl group, a 2-naphthyl group, and the like, and preferably has 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

The heteroaryl group constituting the mono (heteroaryl) amine has a heteroatom as an atom constituting the aromatic ring skeleton, and the heteroatom includes a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, and a boron atom. Can be illustrated. Moreover, the number of the said hetero atom which comprises an aromatic ring frame is not specifically limited, One may be sufficient and two or more may be sufficient. When there are two or more, these heteroatoms may be the same or different from each other. That is, these heteroatoms may all be the same, may all be different, or may be partially different.
The heteroaryl group may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and the number of ring members (the number of atoms constituting the ring skeleton) is not particularly limited, but is preferably a 3- to 12-membered ring.

  Examples of the monoaryl group having 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include pyrrolyl group, pyrrolinyl group, imidazolyl group, pyrazolyl group, pyridyl group, pyrimidyl group, pyrazinyl group, pyridazinyl group, triazolyl group, and tetrazolyl group. , A pyrrolidinyl group, an imidazolidinyl group, a piperidinyl group, a pyrazolidinyl group, and a piperazinyl group, which are preferably 3- to 8-membered rings, more preferably 5- to 6-membered rings.

Examples of the monoaryl group having one oxygen atom as the heteroaryl group include a furanyl group, preferably a 3- to 8-membered ring, and more preferably a 5- to 6-membered ring.
Examples of the monoaryl group having one sulfur atom as the heteroaryl group include a thienyl group, preferably a 3- to 8-membered ring, and more preferably a 5- to 6-membered ring.
Examples of the monoaryl group having 1 to 2 oxygen atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include an oxazolyl group, an isoxazolyl group, an oxadiazolyl group, and a morpholinyl group. It is preferable that it is a 5- to 6-membered ring.
Examples of the monoaryl group having 1 to 2 sulfur atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include a thiazolyl group, a thiadiazolyl group, and a thiazolidinyl group, and is a 3- to 8-membered ring. Preferably, it is a 5-6 membered ring.
Examples of the polyaryl group having 1 to 5 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include indolyl group, isoindolyl group, indolizinyl group, benzimidazolyl group, quinolyl group, isoquinolyl group, indazolyl group, benzotriazolyl group, tetra Examples include a zolopyridyl group, a tetrazolopyridazinyl group, and a dihydrotriazolopyridazinyl group, preferably a 7-12 membered ring, and more preferably a 9-10 membered ring.
Examples of the polyaryl group having 1 to 3 sulfur atoms as the heteroaryl group include a dithiaphthalenyl group and a benzothiophenyl group, preferably a 7 to 12 membered ring, preferably a 9 to 10 membered ring. More preferably, it is a ring.
Examples of the polyaryl group having 1 to 2 oxygen atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include a benzoxazolyl group and a benzooxadiazolyl group. It is preferable that it is a 9-10 membered ring.
Examples of the polyaryl group having 1 to 2 sulfur atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms as the heteroaryl group include a benzothiazolyl group and a benzothiadiazolyl group, and is a 7 to 12 membered ring. Preferably, it is a 9-10 membered ring.

The diamine only needs to have two amino groups, and the positional relationship between the two amino groups is not particularly limited. As the preferred diamine, in the monoalkylamine, monoarylamine or mono (heteroaryl) amine, one hydrogen atom other than the hydrogen atom constituting the amino group (—NH ₂ ) is substituted with an amino group. The thing can be illustrated.
The diamine preferably has 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and more preferable examples include ethylenediamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, and 1,4-diaminobutane.

  Examples of the secondary amine include dialkylamine, diarylamine, di (heteroaryl) amine and the like in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.

The alkyl group that constitutes the dialkylamine is the same as the alkyl group that constitutes the monoalkylamine, and is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or 3 to 7 carbon atoms. A cyclic alkyl group is preferred. Two alkyl groups in one molecule of dialkylamine may be the same or different from each other.
Specific examples of preferable dialkylamines include N-methyl-n-hexylamine, diisobutylamine, and di (2-ethylhexyl) amine.

  The aryl group constituting the diarylamine is the same as the aryl group constituting the monoarylamine, and preferably has 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Two aryl groups in one molecule of diarylamine may be the same as or different from each other.

  The heteroaryl group constituting the di (heteroaryl) amine is the same as the heteroaryl group constituting the mono (heteroaryl) amine, and is preferably a 6-12 membered ring. Two heteroaryl groups in one molecule of di (heteroaryl) amine may be the same as or different from each other.

  Examples of the tertiary amine include trialkylamines and dialkylmonoarylamines in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.

The alkyl group constituting the trialkylamine is the same as the alkyl group constituting the monoalkylamine, and is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 19 carbon atoms, or 3 to 7 carbon atoms. The cyclic alkyl group is preferably. Further, the three alkyl groups in one molecule of trialkylamine may be the same as or different from each other. That is, all three alkyl groups may be the same, all may be different, or only a part may be different.
Specific examples of the preferable trialkylamine include N, N-dimethyl-n-octadecylamine and N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine.

The alkyl group constituting the dialkyl monoarylamine is the same as the alkyl group constituting the monoalkylamine, and is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or 3 to 3 carbon atoms. 7 is a cyclic alkyl group. Two alkyl groups in one molecule of dialkyl monoarylamine may be the same or different from each other.
The aryl group constituting the dialkyl monoarylamine is the same as the aryl group constituting the monoarylamine, and preferably has 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

In the present embodiment, examples of the quaternary ammonium salt include halogenated tetraalkylammonium, in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.
The alkyl group constituting the halogenated tetraalkylammonium is the same as the alkyl group constituting the monoalkylamine, and preferably has 1 to 19 carbon atoms.
Further, the four alkyl groups in one molecule of the halogenated tetraalkylammonium may be the same or different from each other. That is, all four alkyl groups may be the same, all may be different, or only a part may be different.
Examples of the halogen constituting the halogenated tetraalkylammonium include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.
Specific examples of preferred tetraalkylammonium halides include dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide.

So far, the chain amine compound and the quaternary organic ammonium salt have been mainly described. However, in the amine compound and the quaternary ammonium salt, the nitrogen atom constituting the amine moiety or the ammonium salt moiety has a ring skeleton structure ( A heterocyclic compound which is a part of a heterocyclic skeleton structure) may be used. That is, the amine compound may be a cyclic amine, and the quaternary ammonium salt may be a cyclic ammonium salt. At this time, the ring (ring containing the nitrogen atom constituting the amine moiety or ammonium salt moiety) structure may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and the number of ring members (number of atoms constituting the ring skeleton) is also particularly limited. Any of an aliphatic ring and an aromatic ring may be sufficient.
If it is a cyclic amine, a pyridine can be illustrated as a preferable thing.

  In the primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine and quaternary ammonium salt, the “hydrogen atom optionally substituted with a substituent” means a nitrogen atom constituting an amine moiety or an ammonium salt moiety. A hydrogen atom other than a hydrogen atom bonded to. The number of substituents at this time is not particularly limited, and may be one or two or more, and all of the hydrogen atoms may be substituted with substituents. When the number of substituents is plural, the plural substituents may be the same as or different from each other. That is, the plurality of substituents may all be the same, may all be different, or only some may be different. Further, the position of the substituent is not particularly limited.

Examples of the substituent in the amine compound and the quaternary ammonium salt include an alkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, and a trifluoromethyl group (—CF ₃ ). Here, examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.

  When the alkyl group constituting the monoalkylamine has a substituent, the alkyl group has an aryl group as a substituent, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a substituent Preferably, a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 7 carbon atoms having an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms is preferable, and specific examples of monoalkylamine having such a substituent include 2-phenylethylamine , Benzylamine, and 2,3-dimethylcyclohexylamine.

  In addition, the aryl group and the alkyl group which are substituents may further have one or more hydrogen atoms substituted with halogen atoms, and as monoalkylamines having such substituents substituted with halogen atoms, , 2-bromobenzylamine. Here, examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.

  When the aryl group constituting the monoarylamine has a substituent, the aryl group is preferably an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms having a halogen atom as the substituent, and monoaryl having such a substituent. Specific examples of the amine include bromophenylamine. Here, examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.

  When the alkyl group constituting the dialkylamine has a substituent, the alkyl group is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms having a hydroxyl group or an aryl group as a substituent, Specific examples of the dialkylamine having such a substituent include diethanolamine and N-methylbenzylamine.

The amine compound is n-propylamine, n-butylamine, n-hexylamine, n-octylamine, n-dodecylamine, n-octadecylamine, sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, 3-aminopentane, 3-methyl. Butylamine, 2-aminooctane, 2-ethylhexylamine, 2-phenylethylamine, ethylenediamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,4-diaminobutane, N-methyl-n-hexylamine, diisobutylamine, N-methylbenzylamine Di (2-ethylhexyl) amine, 1,2-dimethyl-n-propylamine, N, N-dimethyl-n-octadecylamine or N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine is preferred.
In addition, since the components in the silver ink composition (second mixture) are more uniformly dispersed and the quality is stabilized at the time of supplying carbon dioxide, which will be described later, the amine compound has a branched alkyl group. Those are preferred.

(Ammonium salts derived from amine compounds)
In this embodiment, the ammonium salt derived from the amine compound is an ammonium salt obtained by reacting the amine compound with an acid, and the acid may be an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or nitric acid, or an organic acid such as acetic acid. An acid may be used, and the type of acid is not particularly limited.

  Examples of the ammonium salt derived from the amine compound include, but are not limited to, n-propylamine hydrochloride, N-methyl-n-hexylamine hydrochloride, N, N-dimethyl-n-octadecylamine hydrochloride and the like. .

(Ammonium salt derived from ammonia)
In the present embodiment, the ammonia-derived ammonium salt is an ammonium salt obtained by reacting ammonia with an acid, and the acid may be the same as that of the ammonium salt derived from the amine compound.
Examples of the ammonium salt derived from ammonia include ammonium chloride, but are not limited thereto.

  In this embodiment, the amine compound, the quaternary ammonium salt, the ammonium salt derived from the amine compound, and the ammonium salt derived from ammonia may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Also good. When using 2 or more types together, the combination and ratio can be adjusted arbitrarily.

  And as said nitrogen-containing compound, you may use individually 1 type selected from the group which consists of said amine compound, quaternary ammonium salt, ammonium salt derived from amine compound, and ammonium salt derived from ammonia, Two or more kinds may be used in combination. When using 2 or more types together, the combination and ratio can be adjusted arbitrarily.

In the silver ink composition, the compounding amount of the nitrogen-containing compound is preferably 0.4 to 15 mol, and more preferably 0.8 to 5 mol, per mol of the silver carboxylate.
By defining the blending amount of the nitrogen-containing compound as described above, the silver ink composition is further improved in stability and the quality of the conductive circuit is further improved. Furthermore, a conductive circuit can be formed more stably without performing heat treatment at a high temperature.

[Reducing agent]
The silver ink composition may further contain a reducing agent in addition to the metallic silver forming material. By blending a reducing agent, the silver ink composition can more easily form metallic silver. For example, metallic silver (conductor) having sufficient conductivity can be formed even by heat treatment at a low temperature.

The reducing agent is one or more selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, hydrazine and a compound represented by the following general formula (3) (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “compound (3)”). It is preferably a reducing compound (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “reducing compound”).
HC (= O) -R ²¹ (3)
(In the formula, R ²¹ represents an alkyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an N, N-dialkylamino group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group.)

(Reducing compounds)
The reducing compound is one selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH), hydrazine (H ₂ N—NH ₂ ) and the compound represented by the general formula (3) (compound (3)). That's all. That is, the reducing compound to be blended may be only one type, or two or more types, and when two or more types are used in combination, the combination and ratio can be arbitrarily adjusted.

In the formula, R ²¹ represents an alkyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an N, N-dialkylamino group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group.
The alkyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms in R ²¹ has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and may be linear, branched or cyclic, and is the same as the alkyl group in R in the general formula (1) The thing can be illustrated.

The alkoxy group having 20 or less carbon atoms in R ²¹ has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include monovalent groups in which the alkyl group in R ²¹ is bonded to an oxygen atom.

The N, N-dialkylamino group having 20 or less carbon atoms in R ²¹ has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and the two alkyl groups bonded to the nitrogen atom may be the same as or different from each other, Each alkyl group has 1 to 19 carbon atoms. However, the total value of the carbon number of these two alkyl groups is 2-20.
The alkyl group bonded to the nitrogen atom may be linear, branched or cyclic, respectively, and the alkyl in R of the general formula (1) except that it has 1 to 19 carbon atoms. The thing similar to group can be illustrated.

As the reducing compound, hydrazine may be monohydrate (H ₂ N—NH ₂ .H ₂ O).

The reducing compound includes formic acid (HC (═O) —OH), methyl formate (HC—═O) —OCH ₃ ), ethyl formate (HC—═O) —OCH ₂ CH ₃ ). , Butyl formate (HC (═O) —O (CH ₂ ) ₃ CH ₃ ), propanal (HC (═O) —CH ₂ CH ₃ ), butanal (HC (═O) — ( CH _{2) 2} CH _3), hexanal (H-C (= O) - (CH 2) 4 CH 3), formamide _{(H-C (= O)} -NH 2), N, N- dimethylformamide (H- C (═O) —N (CH ₃ ) ₂ ) or oxalic acid is preferred.

  In the silver ink composition, the compounding amount of the reducing agent is preferably 0.04 to 3.5 mol, and preferably 0.06 to 2.5 mol per 1 mol of the metal silver forming material. Is more preferable. By defining in this way, the silver ink composition can form a conductive circuit more easily and more stably.

[alcohol]
The silver ink composition is preferably one in which alcohol is further blended in addition to the metal silver forming material.

The alcohol is preferably an acetylene alcohol represented by the following general formula (4) (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “acetylene alcohol (4)”).
Acetylene alcohol (4) is suitable as a component for forming a black layer by heat treatment of the above-described silver ink composition.

(In the formula, R ′ and R ″ are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.)

(Acetylene alcohol (4))
The acetylene alcohol (4) is represented by the general formula (4).
In the formula, R ′ and R ″ are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted with a substituent.
The alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms in R ′ and R ″ may be linear, branched or cyclic, and when it is cyclic, it may be monocyclic or polycyclic. Examples of the alkyl group in R ′ and R ″ are the same as the alkyl group in R.

  Examples of the substituent in which the hydrogen atom of the phenyl group in R ′ and R ″ may be substituted include a saturated or unsaturated monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, the aliphatic carbonization Examples thereof include a monovalent group formed by bonding a hydrogen group to an oxygen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, a phenoxy group, and the like, and the hydrogen atom of the phenyl group in R may be substituted. This is the same as the substituent. And the number and position of a substituent are not specifically limited, When there are two or more substituents, these several substituents may mutually be same or different.

  R ′ and R ″ are preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and more preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

  Preferable acetylene alcohol (4) includes 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexyn-3-ol, 3-methyl-1-butyn-3-ol, and 3-methyl-1-pentyn-3-ol.

  In the silver ink composition, the blending amount of acetylene alcohol (4) is preferably 0.03 to 0.7 moles per mole of the metallic silver forming material, and 0.05 to 0.00 moles. More preferably, it is 5 moles. By setting it as such a range, stability of a silver ink composition improves more. Moreover, by setting it as such a range, in the solidification process mentioned later, it becomes easy to form a black layer and a metallic luster color layer in a conductive circuit.

  The said alcohol may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together. When two or more kinds are used in combination, the combination and ratio can be arbitrarily adjusted.

The silver ink composition may contain other components other than the metal silver forming material, nitrogen-containing compound, reducing agent and alcohol.
The other components can be arbitrarily selected according to the purpose, and are not particularly limited. Preferred examples thereof include solvents other than alcohols, and can be arbitrarily selected according to the type and amount of compounding components.
In the silver ink composition, the ratio of the blending amount of the other components to the total blending component is preferably 10% by mass or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or less.
The said other component may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together. When two or more kinds are used in combination, the combination and ratio can be arbitrarily adjusted.

  All of the components in the silver ink composition may be dissolved, or some or all of the components may not be dissolved, but the components that are not dissolved are preferably dispersed uniformly.

The silver ink composition is obtained by blending components other than the metal silver forming material and the metal silver forming material.
At the time of blending each component, all of the components may be added and then mixed, or some components may be mixed while being sequentially added, or all components may be mixed while being sequentially added. Good.
The mixing method is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected from known methods such as a method of mixing by rotating a stirrer or a stirring blade, a method of mixing using a mixer, a method of adding ultrasonic waves, and the like. .

The temperature at the time of blending is not particularly limited as long as each blending component does not deteriorate, but is preferably −5 ° C. to 30 ° C.
The blending time (mixing time) is not particularly limited as long as each blending component does not deteriorate, but is preferably 5 minutes to 120 minutes.

[carbon dioxide]
The silver ink composition may be further supplied with carbon dioxide. Such a silver ink composition has a high viscosity. For example, a flexographic printing method, a screen printing method, a gravure printing method, a gravure offset printing method, a pad printing method, etc. Suitable for application.

Carbon dioxide may be supplied at any time during the production of the silver ink composition.
In this embodiment, for example, carbon dioxide is supplied to the first mixture in which the metal silver forming material and the nitrogen-containing compound are blended to form a second mixture, Further, it is preferable to produce a silver ink composition by blending the reducing agent. Moreover, when mix | blending the said alcohol or another component, these can be mix | blended at the time of manufacture of any one or both of a 1st mixture and a 2nd mixture, and can be arbitrarily selected according to the objective.

  The first mixture can be produced by the same method as the above silver ink composition except that the blending components are different.

  The first mixture may have all of the compounding components dissolved, or may be in a dispersed state without dissolving some of the components, but preferably all of the compounding components are dissolved and dissolved. It is preferable that the components not dispersed are uniformly dispersed.

  Although the compounding temperature at the time of manufacture of a 1st mixture is not specifically limited unless each compounding component deteriorates, It is preferable that it is -5 degreeC-30 degreeC. Moreover, what is necessary is just to adjust mixing | blending time suitably according to the kind of mixing | blending component, and the temperature at the time of mixing | blending, For example, it is preferable that it is 0.5 to 12 hours.

Carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) supplied to the first mixture may be either gaseous or solid (dry ice), or both gaseous and solid. By supplying carbon dioxide, it is estimated that this carbon dioxide dissolves in the first mixture and acts on the components in the first mixture, thereby increasing the viscosity of the obtained second mixture.

  Carbon dioxide gas may be supplied by various known methods of blowing gas into the liquid, and a suitable supply method may be selected as appropriate. For example, a method of immersing one end of the pipe in the first mixture and connecting the other end to a carbon dioxide gas supply source and supplying the carbon dioxide gas to the first mixture through the pipe can be exemplified. At this time, the carbon dioxide gas may be supplied directly from the end of the pipe. For example, a plurality of voids that can serve as gas flow paths, such as a porous one, are provided to diffuse the introduced gas. A gas diffusion member that can be discharged as minute bubbles may be connected to the end of the pipe, and the carbon dioxide gas may be supplied through the gas diffusion member. Moreover, you may supply a carbon dioxide gas, stirring the 1st mixture by the method similar to the time of manufacture of a 1st mixture. By doing in this way, carbon dioxide can be supplied efficiently.

  The supply amount of the carbon dioxide gas is not particularly limited as long as it is appropriately adjusted according to the amount of the first mixture at the supply destination and the viscosity of the target silver ink composition or the second mixture. For example, in order to obtain about 100 g to 1000 g of a silver ink composition having a viscosity at 20 ° C. to 25 ° C. (according to an ultrasonic viscometer) of 5 Pa · s or more, it is preferable to supply 100 L or more of carbon dioxide gas. It is more preferable to supply 200 L or more. Here, the viscosity at 20 ° C. to 25 ° C. of the silver ink composition has been described, but the temperature at the time of use of the silver ink composition is not limited to 20 ° C. to 25 ° C. and can be arbitrarily selected.

The flow rate of carbon dioxide gas may be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the required supply amount of carbon dioxide gas, but is preferably 0.5 mL / min or more per 1 g of the first mixture, and is 1 mL / min or more. It is more preferable that The upper limit value of the flow rate is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 mL / min per 1 g of the mixture in consideration of handling properties and the like.
The carbon dioxide gas supply time may be appropriately adjusted in consideration of the required supply amount and flow rate of carbon dioxide gas.

  The temperature of the first mixture at the time of supplying carbon dioxide gas is preferably 5 ° C to 70 ° C, more preferably 7 ° C to 60 ° C, and particularly preferably 10 ° C to 50 ° C. By setting it to the lower limit or higher, carbon dioxide can be supplied more efficiently, and by setting it to the upper limit or lower, a silver ink composition having better quality with fewer impurities can be obtained.

  The flow rate and supply time of the carbon dioxide gas, and the temperature at the time of supplying the carbon dioxide gas may be adjusted to a suitable range while considering each value. For example, even if the temperature is set lower, the carbon dioxide gas flow rate is set higher, the carbon dioxide gas supply time is set longer, or both are performed efficiently. Can supply carbon.

  Moreover, even if the flow rate of carbon dioxide gas is set to a small value, the carbon dioxide gas can be efficiently produced by increasing the temperature, setting the carbon dioxide gas supply time longer, or both. Can supply. That is, a silver ink of good quality can be obtained by flexibly combining the numerical values in the above numerical range exemplified as the flow rate of carbon dioxide gas and the temperature at the time of carbon dioxide gas supply while considering the supply time of carbon dioxide gas. A composition is obtained efficiently.

The carbon dioxide gas is preferably supplied while stirring the first mixture. By doing in this way, the supplied carbon dioxide gas diffuses more uniformly in the first mixture, and carbon dioxide can be supplied more efficiently.
The stirring method at this time may be the same as in the case of the mixing method at the time of producing the above silver ink composition not using carbon dioxide.

The supply of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) may be performed by adding dry ice to the first mixture. The total amount of dry ice may be added all at once, or may be added stepwise (continuously across a time zone during which no addition is performed).
What is necessary is just to adjust the usage-amount of dry ice in consideration of the supply amount of said carbon dioxide gas.
During and after the addition of dry ice, it is preferable to stir the first mixture. For example, it is preferable to stir in the same manner as in the production of the silver ink composition described above without using carbon dioxide. By doing in this way, carbon dioxide can be supplied efficiently.
The temperature at the time of stirring may be the same as that at the time of supplying carbon dioxide gas. Moreover, what is necessary is just to adjust stirring time suitably according to stirring temperature.

  The viscosity of the second mixture may be appropriately adjusted according to the purpose, such as a method for handling the silver ink composition or the second mixture, and is not particularly limited. For example, when the silver ink composition is applied to a printing method using a high viscosity ink such as a screen printing method or an intaglio printing (gravure printing) method, the viscosity (ultrasonic wave) of the second mixture at 20 ° C. to 25 ° C. (Based on a system viscometer) is preferably 3 Pa · s or more. In addition, although the viscosity in 20 to 25 degreeC of the 2nd mixture was demonstrated here, the temperature at the time of use of a 2nd mixture is not limited to 20 to 25 degreeC, It can select arbitrarily.

The second mixture is further mixed with the reducing agent to form a silver ink composition.
The silver ink composition at this time can be produced by the same method as the above silver ink composition not using carbon dioxide except that the blending components are different. The obtained silver ink composition may have all of the compounding components dissolved therein, or may be in a state where some of the components are dispersed without dissolving, but all of the compounding components are dissolved. Preferably, the undissolved component is preferably dispersed uniformly.

  Although the temperature at the time of the compounding of the reducing compound is not particularly limited as long as each compounding component does not deteriorate, it is preferably -5 ° C to 60 ° C. Moreover, what is necessary is just to adjust mixing | blending time suitably according to the kind of mixing | blending component, and the temperature at the time of mixing | blending, For example, it is preferable that it is 0.5 to 12 hours.

  As described above, the other components may be blended during the production of either the first mixture or the second mixture, or may be blended during the production of both. That is, in the process of producing the silver ink composition via the first mixture and the second mixture, the ratio of the blended amount of the other components to the total amount of blended components other than carbon dioxide ([other components (mass) ] / [Formation material of metallic silver, nitrogen-containing compound, reducing agent, alcohol, and other components (mass)] × 100) is preferably 10% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less. Preferably, even if 0 mass, that is, no other component is blended, the silver ink composition exhibits its effect sufficiently.

  For example, when a reducing agent is blended, the resulting blend (silver ink composition) tends to generate heat relatively easily. And when the temperature at the time of compounding of the reducing agent is high, since this compound is in the same state as at the time of heat treatment of the silver ink composition described later, the decomposition promoting action of the silver carboxylate by the reducing agent, It is speculated that the formation of metallic silver may be initiated in at least part of the silver carboxylate. Such a silver ink composition containing metallic silver may be able to form a conductive circuit by performing post-treatment under conditions milder than those of a silver ink composition not containing metallic silver at the time of forming the conductive circuit.

  In addition, when the amount of the reducing agent is sufficiently large, a conductive circuit may be formed by performing post-processing under the same mild conditions. In this way, by adopting conditions that promote the decomposition of the silver carboxylate, the conductive circuit can be formed by post-processing, by heat treatment at a lower temperature, or only by drying at room temperature without performing heat treatment. Sometimes it can be formed. Moreover, the silver ink composition containing such metal silver can be handled in the same manner as the silver ink composition not containing metal silver, and the handleability is not particularly inferior.

  In this embodiment, it is preferable to mix while dropping the reducing agent. Further, by suppressing the fluctuation of the dropping speed, the surface roughness of the conductive circuit tends to be further reduced.

  In the present embodiment, it is also preferable to produce a silver ink composition by supplying carbon dioxide to a mixture containing the metallic silver forming material, alcohol and nitrogen-containing compound. In this case, the same method as described above can be adopted as a method for supplying carbon dioxide.

  The silver ink composition to which carbon dioxide is supplied is, for example, at 20 ° C. to 25 ° C. when the silver ink composition is applied to a printing method using a high viscosity ink such as a screen printing method or a flexographic printing method. The viscosity (using an ultrasonic viscometer) is preferably 1 Pa · s or more.

  In the conductive circuit forming step, the conductive circuit is adjusted by adjusting the amount of the silver ink composition to be deposited on the electrode forming surface 20a of the transparent substrate 20 or the blending amount of the metal silver forming material in the silver ink composition. Can adjust the thickness.

  In the case of solidifying the silver ink composition adhered on the electrode forming surface 20a of the transparent substrate 20, it may be performed by a known method. For example, the drying treatment is performed under normal pressure, reduced pressure, and blowing conditions. Either may be performed, and it may be performed in the air or in an inert gas atmosphere. Also, the drying temperature is not particularly limited, and may be either heat drying or room temperature drying. As a preferable drying method when the heat treatment is unnecessary, a method of drying in the air at 18 ° C. to 30 ° C. can be exemplified.

  When the silver ink composition deposited on the electrode forming surface 20a of the transparent base material 20 is heated (baked), the conditions may be adjusted as appropriate according to the type of compounding component of the silver ink composition. Usually, it is preferable that heating temperature is 50 to 500 degreeC, and it is more preferable that it is 70 to 300 degreeC. The heating time may be adjusted according to the heating temperature, but it is usually preferably 5 seconds to 12 hours, and more preferably 1 minute to 5 hours. Among the silver silver forming materials, the silver carboxylate, in particular, the silver β-ketocarboxylate (1) is different from the metal silver forming material such as silver oxide, for example, using a reducing agent known in the art. Even if not, it decomposes at low temperature. Reflecting such decomposition temperature, the silver ink composition can form metallic silver at an extremely lower temperature than the conventional one as described above.

  The method for heat treatment of the silver ink composition is not particularly limited, and for example, heating by an electric furnace, heating by a thermal head, heating by far infrared irradiation, heating by blowing a hot gas, or the like can be performed. Further, the heat treatment of the silver ink composition may be performed in the air, in an inert gas atmosphere, or may be performed under humidified conditions. And you may carry out under any of a normal pressure and pressure reduction.

  When the heat treatment of the silver ink composition is performed under humidified conditions, it is preferably performed in an atmosphere with a relative humidity of 10% or more, more preferably in an atmosphere with a relative humidity of 60% or more, and a relative humidity of 80%. It is particularly preferable to perform in the above atmosphere, and may be performed by spraying high-pressure steam heated to 100 ° C. or higher. By performing heat treatment under humidification conditions in this manner, a conductive circuit having a low resistance value (excellent conductivity) can be formed in a short time.

  The heat treatment of the silver ink composition may be performed in two stages. For example, in the first stage heat treatment, a method of mainly drying the silver ink composition instead of forming the conductive circuit, and performing the formation of the conductive circuit to the end in the second stage heat treatment can be exemplified.

  In the first-stage heat treatment, the heating temperature may be appropriately adjusted according to the type of the composition component of the ink composition, but is preferably 50 ° C to 500 ° C, and preferably 70 ° C to 300 ° C. More preferred. Moreover, what is necessary is just to adjust a heating time according to heating temperature, Usually, it is preferable that it is 5 second-12 hours, and it is more preferable that it is 1 minute-5 hours.

  In the second-stage heat treatment, the heating temperature may be appropriately adjusted according to the type of the composition component of the ink composition so that the conductive circuit is satisfactorily formed. Preferably, it is 70 to 250 degreeC. Moreover, what is necessary is just to adjust a heating time according to heating temperature, Usually, it is preferable that it is 1 minute-12 hours, and it is more preferable that it is 1 minute-10 hours.

  According to the touch panel 10 including the touch panel electrode 50 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 that are electrically separated from each other are adjacent to each other. An overlapping portion 30 </ b> W is formed by overlapping the end portions 30 e of the strip-shaped electrode 30. Such overlapping portion 30 </ b> W can prevent the visibility of the adjacent portions between the electrode patterns from being lower than that of the peripheral portion, and the image displayed on the touch panel 10 can be seen more clearly. Therefore, the visibility of the touch panel 10 can be improved.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing a touch panel provided with electrodes for the touch panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the touch panel including the touch panel electrode of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
The touch panel 60 of this embodiment includes a transparent base material (substrate) 20 and a touch panel electrode (electrode) 70 formed on an electrode forming surface 20 a that is one surface of the transparent base material 20. The touch panel electrode 70 is composed of a pattern electrode formed by intersecting a plurality of strip electrodes 80 with each other.

  The strip-shaped electrode 80 includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 80a extending along the first direction L1 and a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 80b extending along the second direction L2 intersecting at an angle θ to form a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 70. Forming. That is, a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 70 is formed by providing a large number of rectangular unit electrode patterns S connected in series. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is, for example, 90 °, and the band-shaped electrode 80a and the band-shaped electrode 80b are orthogonal to each other to constitute a touch panel electrode 70 having a mesh structure (mesh structure). .

  The touch panel electrode 70 includes a first electrode pattern region E1 and a second electrode pattern region E2, which are two electrode pattern regions disposed adjacent to each other on the electrode formation surface 20a. The first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are electrically separated from each other.

  On the side where the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 face each other (adjacent), an end portion 80e of the strip electrode 80 constituting the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are formed. The end 80e of the strip electrode 80 forms an overlapping portion 80W that overlaps with each other in the direction intersecting the first direction L1 and the second direction L2.

  In the present embodiment, the end 80e of the strip electrode 80 is formed in a dotted line shape in which dotted conductors are arranged along the first direction L1 and the second direction L2. In the end portion 80e of the strip electrode 80 formed in such a dotted line shape, the formation interval and size of the dotted conductors can be arbitrarily selected.

  According to the touch panel 60 having such a configuration, the end portion 80e of the strip-shaped electrode 80 formed in a dotted line shape is adjacent to the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 that are electrically separated from each other. By forming the overlapping portion 80W that is overlapped, the visibility of the adjacent portions between the electrode patterns can be prevented from being lower than that of the peripheral portion. Thereby, an image displayed on the touch panel 60 can be seen more clearly, and the visibility of the touch panel 60 can be improved.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing a touch panel provided with electrodes for the touch panel according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of the third embodiment, the same components as those of the touch panel including the touch panel electrode of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
The touch panel 90 of this embodiment includes a transparent base material (substrate) 20 and a touch panel electrode (electrode) 100 formed on an electrode forming surface 20 a that is one surface of the transparent base material 20. The touch panel electrode 100 is composed of a pattern electrode formed by intersecting a plurality of strip electrodes 110 with each other.

  The strip-shaped electrode 110 includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 110a extending along the first direction L1 and a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 110b extending along the second direction L2 intersecting at an angle θ to form the grid-shaped touch panel electrode 100. Forming. That is, a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 100 is formed by providing a number of rectangular unit electrode patterns S connected in series. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is, for example, 90 °, and the strip electrode 110a and the strip electrode 110b are orthogonal to each other to constitute a touch panel electrode 100 having a mesh structure (mesh structure). .

  The touch panel electrode 100 includes a first electrode pattern region E1 and a second electrode pattern region E2, which are two electrode pattern regions disposed adjacent to each other on the electrode formation surface 20a. The first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are electrically separated from each other.

  On the side where the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 face each other (adjacent), an end portion 110e of the strip electrode 110 constituting the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are formed. The end portion 110e of the strip electrode 110 forms an overlapping portion 110W that overlaps with each other in the direction intersecting the first direction L1 and the second direction L2.

In the present embodiment, the width of the end portion 110e of the strip electrode 110 constituting the overlapping portion 110W is reduced as compared with the other portions. That is, the width G1 of the end portion 110e of the strip electrode 110 is formed to be half the width (half width) of the width G2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 110W of the strip electrode 110.
Note that the width G1 of the end portion 110e of the belt-like electrode 110 only needs to be smaller than the width G2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 110W of the belt-like electrode 110, and is not limited to a half width.

  According to the touch panel 90 having such a configuration, the width G2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 110W of the strip electrode 110 is adjacent to the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 that are electrically separated from each other. By forming the overlapping portion 110W in which the end portions 110e of the belt-like electrode 110 formed to have a smaller width G1 are overlapped, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the adjacent portions between the electrode patterns from being lower than the surrounding portions. . Thereby, an image displayed on the touch panel 90 can be seen more clearly, and the visibility of the touch panel 90 can be improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a main part enlarged plan view showing a touch panel provided with electrodes for a touch panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of the fourth embodiment, the same components as those of the touch panel including the touch panel electrode of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
The touch panel 120 of this embodiment includes a transparent base material (substrate) 20 and a touch panel electrode (electrode) 130 formed on an electrode forming surface 20 a that is one surface of the transparent base material 20. The touch panel electrode 130 is composed of a pattern electrode formed by intersecting a plurality of strip electrodes 140 with each other.

  The strip-shaped electrode 140 includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 140a extending along the first direction L1 and a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes 140b extending along the second direction L2 intersecting at an angle θ to form a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 130. Forming. That is, a grid-shaped touch panel electrode 130 is formed by providing a large number of rectangular unit electrode patterns S connected in series. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is, for example, 90 °, and the strip electrode 140a and the strip electrode 140b are orthogonal to each other to form a touch panel electrode 130 having a mesh structure (mesh structure). .

  The touch panel electrode 130 includes a first electrode pattern region E1 and a second electrode pattern region E2, which are two electrode pattern regions arranged adjacent to each other on the electrode formation surface 20a. The first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are electrically separated from each other.

  On the side where the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 face each other (adjacent), the end portion 140e of the strip electrode 140 that constitutes the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 are formed. The end portion 140e of the strip electrode 140 forms an overlapping portion 140W that overlaps with each other in the direction intersecting the first direction L1 and the second direction L2.

In the present embodiment, the end portion 140e of the strip electrode 140 constituting the overlapping portion 140W of the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 has a smaller thickness than the other portions. That is, the thickness d1 of the end portion 140e of the strip electrode 140 is formed to be half the thickness d2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 140W of the strip electrode 140.
Note that the thickness d1 of the end portion 140e of the band-shaped electrode 140 only needs to be smaller than the thickness d2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 140W of the band-shaped electrode 140, and is not limited to half the thickness.

  According to the touch panel 120 having such a configuration, the thickness d2 in the region other than the overlapping portion 140W of the strip electrode 140 is adjacent to the first electrode pattern region E1 and the second electrode pattern region E2 that are electrically separated from each other. By forming the overlapping portion 140W in which the end portions 140e of the strip-shaped electrode 140 formed to have a smaller thickness d1 are overlapped, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the adjacent portions between the electrode patterns from being lower than the surrounding portions. . Thereby, the image displayed on the touch panel 120 can be seen more clearly, and the visibility of the touch panel 120 can be improved.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the electrode of this invention and the touchscreen to which this electrode was applied was described, this invention is not limited to this, In the range which does not deviate from the technical idea of the invention, it can change suitably.

  For example, the crossing angle between the strip electrode extending along the first direction and the strip electrode extending along the second direction can be crossed at an arbitrary angle other than a right angle. When the crossing angle is other than 90 °, each unit electrode pattern has a diamond shape.

  Moreover, it is also preferable that an insulating layer is further formed so as to cover the strip electrode and the conductor formed on the electrode forming surface of the transparent substrate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the touch panel electrode and the touch panel using the same are illustrated as an application example of the electrode, but the electrode of the present invention is not limited to the touch panel. For example, the present invention can be applied to an electromagnetic wave shield that requires transparency and various transparent electrodes.

  Moreover, although the example which made the electrode formation surface the one surface of a transparent base material is given in embodiment mentioned above, both surfaces of a transparent base material can also be made into an electrode formation surface. In this case, the electrode patterns formed on one electrode forming surface and the other electrode forming surface may be the same or different from each other. Alternatively, a plurality of electrodes may be stacked and stacked to form a capacitive touch panel electrode.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Touch panel, 20 ... Transparent base material, 30 ... Strip electrode, 30W ... Overlapping part, 50 ... Touch-panel electrode (electrode).

Claims (4)

A plurality of band-like electrodes extending along the first direction and the second direction of the electrode forming surface are crossed with each other to form a lattice-like unit electrode pattern, and a plurality of the unit electrode patterns are connected in series. An electrode having at least an electrode pattern region and a second electrode pattern region,
The first electrode pattern region and the second electrode pattern region are arranged adjacent to each other in an adjacent portion and electrically separated,
In the adjacent portion, the end of the strip electrode in the first electrode pattern region and the end of the strip electrode in the second electrode pattern region intersect the first direction and the second direction of the electrode formation surface. An electrode having overlapping portions that overlap with each other in the direction in which the electrodes overlap.   2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a thickness and a width of the overlapping portion in the belt-like electrode is reduced as compared with other portions.   The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the overlapping portion in the strip electrode is formed in a dotted line shape.   A touch panel comprising: a transparent substrate; and the electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3 formed on the transparent substrate.

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