Electrohydrodynamic printing of nanomaterials for flexible and stretchable electronics
Disclosed are examples for printing a one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterial for use in stretchable electronic devices. An ink comprising a nanomaterial solution is dispersed from a pneumatic dispensing system of a printing device. The 1D nanomaterial is printed in a predefined pattern on an underlying substrate positioned on a ground electrode. A voltage is applied between the printing nozzle and the ground electrode to cause the ink to form into a cone during the printing. The substrate can be modified to increase the wettability of the substrate to enhance adhesion of the ink to the substrate.
1. A method for printing a one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterial, the method comprising:
preparing an ink comprising a nanomaterial solution;
filling a pneumatic dispensing system of a printing device with the ink;
modifying a surface of a substrate by applying at least one of: a dopamine coating or an ultraviolet ozone treatment;
printing the 1D nanomaterial on the substrate positioned on a ground electrode, the 1D nanomaterial being printed according to a predefined pattern, and printing of the 1D nanomaterial comprising:
causing the ink to flow from a printing nozzle of the printing device onto the substrate; and
applying a voltage between the printing nozzle and the ground electrode causing the ink to form into a cone during the printing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 1D nanomaterial comprises a conductive metal.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conductive metal comprises at least one of silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, or copper.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanomaterial solution comprises a mixture of a polymer with a metal concentration.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises Poly(ethylene oxide).
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises about 4% of the nanomaterial solution.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising improving the conductivity of the 1D nanomaterial by removing at least a portion of the polymer, wherein removing the at least a portion of the polymer comprises at least one of:
soaking the printed 1D nanomaterial in a solvent over a period of time and drying the 1D nanomaterial; or
applying a heat treatment to the printed 1D nanomaterial.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the ink to flow comprises applying a pressure to the ink, an amount of the pressure applied being based at least in part on a viscosity of the ink and a nozzle size of the printing nozzle.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a printing resolution quality of the 1D nanomaterial is based at least in part on at least one of an applied pressure to the ink, the voltage, a stand-off distance, a printing speed, or a nozzle size.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 1D nanomaterial comprises a nanotube, nanorod, nanofiber or a nanowire.
11. A stretchable electronic device comprising a nanomaterial made by the method of claim 1 .
12. The stretchable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the nanomaterial solution comprises a mixture of a polymer with a metal concentration.
13. The stretchable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the 1D nanomaterial comprises a conductive metal.
14. A method, comprising:
modifying a surface of a substrate by applying a dopamine coating or an ultraviolet ozone (UVO) treatment;
positioning the substrate on top of a ground electrode; and
printing a nanomaterial component having a predefined pattern on the substrate by:
causing nanomaterial ink to flow from a printing nozzle of a printing device onto the surface of the substrate; and
applying a voltage between the printing nozzle and the ground electrode causing the ink to form into a cone during printing.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the surface of the substrate is modified to enhance a wettability characteristic of the substrate.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the surface is modified using the UVO treatment, and further comprising treating the surface with the UVO treatment for about thirty minutes.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the surface is modified using the dopamine coating, and wherein modifying the surface comprises soaking the substrate in the dopamine coating in a range of about eight to about sixty minutes.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises at least one of paper, glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polycarbonate filter.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nanomaterial ink comprises a mixture of a polymer with a metal concentration comprising at least one of silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, or copper.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the polymer comprises Poly(ethylene oxide).