structures which exhibit extraordinary behaviour(s). This review represents a comprehensive account of the state-of-the-art in the production of such metamaterials using additive manufacturing methods and highlights areas, which, based on trends observed in the literature, are worthy of further research and require a coordinated effort on behalf of the afore mentioned disciplines in order to advance the state-of-the-art.
Pristine graphene and graphene-based heterostructures can exhibit exceptionally high electron mobility if their surface contains few electron-scattering impurities. Mobility directly influences electrical conductivity and its dependence on the carrier density. But linking these key transport parameters remains a challenging task for both theorists and experimentalists. Here, we report numerical and analytical models of carrier transport in graphene, which reveal a universal connection between graphene’s carrier mobility and the variation of its electrical conductivity with carrier density. Our model of graphene conductivity is based on a convolution of carrier density and its uncertainty, which is verified by numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport equation including the effects of charged impurity scattering and optical phonons on the carrier mobility. This model reproduces, explains, and unifies experimental mobility and conductivity data from a wide range of samples and provides a way to predict a priori all key transport parameters of graphene devices. Our results open a route for controlling the transport properties of graphene by doping and for engineering the properties of 2D materials and heterostructures.
Abstract:The concept of Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is emerging from the so-called Rapid Prototyping technologies where additive rather than subtractive techniques will be used to make parts or even completed assemblies. As no tooling is required, one of the main benefits of RM will be the ability to make cost-effective custom products that could all be entirely individualised to a particular consumer or user. Thus, Rapid Manufacturing is the enabling technology for true, cost effective custom manufacturing and has the potential to revolutionise the design and manufacturing worlds. This paper will introduce results from a current research project that is being undertaken at Loughborough University looking into the effects that will occur to the logistics and supply chain infrastructure with the advent of RM.
This study reports the successful fabrication of complex 3D metal nanoparticle-polymer nanocomposites using two-photon polymerization (2PP). Three complementary strategies are detailed: in situ formation of metal nanoparticles (MeNPs) through a single-step photoreduction process, integration of pre-formed MeNPs into 2PP resin, and site-selective MeNPs decoration of 3D 2PP structures. In the in situ formation strategy, a phasetransfer method is applied to transfer silver and copper ions from an aqueous phase into a toluene solvent to disperse them in photoreactive monomers. The addition of a photosensitive dye, coumarin 30, facilitated the reduction of silver ions and improved the distribution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This strategy is successfully used to produce other MeNPs, such as Cu and Au. The integration of pre-formed MeNPs enabled highly controlled NP size distribution within the 2PP 3D structures with high-fidelity To enable selective decoration of 2PP 3D surfaces with MeNPs, a multimaterial strategy is developed, with one of the resins designed for thiol-ene reaction, which demonstrated selective binding to AuNPs. The successful development of complementary strategies for integration of MeNPs into 2PP resins offers exciting opportunities for fabrication of MeNP composites with sub-micron resolution for applications from photonics to metamaterials and drug delivery.
2D materials have unique structural and electronic properties with potential for transformative device applications. However, such devices are usually bespoke structures made by sequential deposition of exfoliated 2D layers. There is a need for scalable manufacturing techniques capable of producing high‐quality large‐area devices comprising multiple 2D materials. Additive manufacturing with inks containing 2D material flakes is a promising solution. Inkjet‐printed devices incorporating 2D materials have been demonstrated, however there is a need for greater understanding of quantum transport phenomena as well as their structural properties. Experimental and theoretical studies of inkjet‐printed graphene structures are presented. Detailed electrical and structural characterization is reported and explained by comparison with transport modeling that include inter‐flake quantum tunneling transport and percolation dynamics. The results reveal that the electrical properties are strongly influenced by the flakes packing fraction and by complex meandering electron trajectories, which traverse several printed layers. Controlling these trajectories is essential for printing high‐quality devices that exploit the properties of 2D materials. Inkjet‐printed graphene is used to make a field effect transistor and Ohmic contacts on an InSe phototransistor. This is the first time that inkjet‐printed graphene has successfully replaced single layer graphene as a contact material for 2D metal chalcogenides.
In article number 1900187 by Clive J. Roberts, Ricky D. Wildman and co‐workers report an entirely new approach to formulating and controlling drug release from 3D printed systems/implants. This approach allows for hierarchical control over release, by exercising control over composition of a printed system over multiple length scales through molecular to macroscopic.
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