Planar and three-dimensional printing of conductive inks.
Printed electronics rely on low-cost, large-area fabrication routes to create flexible or multidimensional electronic, optoelectronic, and biomedical devices. In this paper, we focus on one- (1D), two- (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) printing of conductive metallic inks in the form of flexible, stretchable, and spanning microelectrodes. Direct-write assembly is a 1-to-3D printing technique that enables the fabrication of features ranging from simple lines to complex structures by the deposition of concentrated inks through fine nozzles (~0.1 - 250 μm). This printing method consists of a computer-controlled 3-axis translation stage, an ink reservoir and nozzle, and 10x telescopic lens for visualization. Unlike inkjet printing, a droplet-based process, direct-write assembly involves the extrusion of ink filaments either in- or out-of-plane. The printed filaments typically conform to the nozzle size. Hence, microscale features (< 1 μm) can be patterned and assembled into larger arrays and multidimensional architectures. In this paper, we first synthesize a highly concentrated silver nanoparticle ink for planar and 3D printing via direct-write assembly. Next, a standard protocol for printing microelectrodes in multidimensional motifs is demonstrated. Finally, applications of printed microelectrodes for electrically small antennas, solar cells, and light-emitting diodes are highlighted.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Bok Yeop
BY
Ahn
Steven B
SB
Walker
Scott C
SC
Slimmer
Analisa
A
Russo
Ashley
A
Gupta
Steve
S
Kranz
Eric B
EB
Duoss
Thomas F
TF
Malkowski
Jennifer A
JA
Lewis
D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
D012834:Silver