Characteristics of ZnO-B2O3-SiO2-CaO glass frits prepared by spray pyrolysis as inorganic binder for Cu electrode

ZnO-B₂O₃-SiO₂-CaO glass frits were directly prepared by high temperature spray pyrolysis for use in Cu electrodes. The frits prepared at temperatures above 1400 °C were spherical, amorphous, of fine size and dense structure. The mean particle size and geometric standard deviation of the frits prepared at 1400 °C were 0.87 μm and 1.37, respectively. The temperatures of glass transition, crystallization and melting were 454, 534 and 800 °C, respectively. The glass layer fired at 800 °C had a dense structure due to the material's complete melting, despite some crystals being observed by SEM. A copper electrode formed from copper paste with glass frits had a dense structure when fired at 800 °C. The specific resistances of electrodes formed from copper paste with and without glass frits were 2.5 and 8.5 μΩ cm, respectively.