A review of non-contact micro- and nano-printing technologies

Abstract

Printing technologies have undergone signficant development because they are an enabler in science and engineering research; they also have significant practical applications in manufacturing. Micro-and nano-printing techniques have found a number of applications in electronics, biotechnology, and material synthesis/patterning. In this review, we look at the important printing methods, including high precision traditional printing methods as well as recently emerging techniques. We also discuss the materials that are printable by these technologies, the challenges for future development, and the applications of micro-and nano-printing.

Nanomanufacturing—Perspective and applications

“…With the advent of electrohydrodynamic jet printing, droplets that are smaller than the nozzle itself can be printed at room temperature and at high speed. Moreover, the nanojets can manufacture nanostructures well [178].…”

“…Nanoprinting has found many applications in electronics, biotechnology, and material synthesis/patterning [178]. In particular, it is widely used in nanobiotechnology for constructing nanobiomaterials or nanostructures.…”

Micro- and Nanomanipulation for Nanomanufacturing

“…There are several printing methods with sub-micron, or potential sub-micron resolution [21]. Figure 12 shows dielectrophoretic printing of Au nanoparticles using a sub-micrometer sized capillary.…”

Thin film zinc oxide gas sensor fabricated using near-field electrospray

“…[1][2][3] Additionally, inkjet printing is a non-contact technology that does not require etching and exposure processing, 4 which allows complex functional patterns to be printed precisely on flat and three dimensional substrates with the help of moving platforms. All printed electronic devices are receiving significant attention in research and electronic industries.…”