Electrohydrodynamic jet printing has been largely ignored in the high resolution graphics and electronics fabrication industries because previous methods used broad and blunt nozzles that did not provide the resolutions and accuracy of other methods. Because e-jet printing also required a high voltage and led to significant positioning errors, it was restricted to use in modest resolution applications. This new approach to e-jet printing produces a higher resolution using nozzles with much smaller internal diameters than previous methods. In former methods, e-jet printing was limited to dot diameters of ~15 micrometers. This new method can produce dots as small as 250 nanometers and line widths as narrow as 700 nanometers.
Details
E-jet printing uses electric fields to create the necessary fluid flows to deliver inks to a substrate. While this approach has been explored for modest resolutions, this new approach deals specifically with high resolution printing. The e-jet uses nozzles have much smaller internal diameters than previous methods. A voltage applied between the nozzle and the metal plate allows for greater accuracy in high resolution printing. This method is now in development with multiple nozzles which will allow for greatly increased printing speed.
Applications
- Inkjet and printed electronics industries, as well as the security, biotechnology and photonics industries.
Benefits
- Small nozzle internal diameters, less than 30 micrometers, coupled with low volt electric charge, allows for very high resolution printing.
- Can print nearly any chemical composition of ink without requiring a specific type of ink for high resolution printing.
- Distribution of electric field lines through low voltage results in minimal lateral variations and greater accuracy in high resolution printing.
- Can be used to print bulk single walled carbon nanotubes, on almost any substrate.