title: Sliding three-phase contact line of printed droplets for single-crystal arrays.
abstract: Controlling the behaviours of printed droplets is an essential requirement for inkjet printing of delicate three-dimensional (3D) structures or high-resolution patterns. In this work, molecular deposition and crystallization are regulated by manipulating the three-phase contact line (TCL) behaviour of the printed droplets. The results show that oriented single-crystal arrays are fabricated based on the continuously sliding TCL. Owing to the sliding of the TCL on the substrate, the outward capillary flow within the evaporating droplet is suppressed and the molecules are brought to the centre of the droplet, resulting in the formation of a single crystal. This work provides a facile strategy for controlling the structures of printed units by manipulating the TCL of printed droplets, which is significant for realizing high-resolution patterns and delicate 3D structures.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Nanomaterials for Green Printing Technology, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China. Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interface Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minxuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xingye
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song