Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing: Introductory Concepts and Considerations

Abstract

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing is an emerging technique in the field of additive manufacturing. Due to its versatility in the inks it can print, and most importantly, the printing resolution it can achieve, it is rapidly gaining favor for application in the manufacture of electronic devices, sensors, and displays among others. Although it is an affordable and accessible manufacturing process, it does require excellent operational understanding to achieve high resolution printing of up to 50 nm as reported in literature. In this review, three main aspects are considered, namely, the ink properties, the printer system itself (including design, nozzle dimensions, applied potential, and others), and the substrate onto which printing is being carried out. Knowing how all these factors can be manipulated and brought together allows the users of EHD printing to achieve extraordinary resolution and consistent results. The review is concluded with a brief discussion on where one can see the potential for development in this field of research.

High Precision 3D Printing for Micro to Nano Scale Biomedical and Electronic Devices

“…Several common modes are shown in Figure 3c. Among them, dripping and jet modes are the most typical, other modes derive from dripping and jet modes [79]. A dripping mode is observed using relatively small voltage with a low flow rate of the ink, while a jet mode is formed with a high flow rate.…”

Simulation and Printing of Microdroplets Using Straight Electrode-Based Electrohydrodynamic Jet for Flexible Substrate

“…The electrostatics and laminar phase-flow physics were computed in Multiphysics contour in accordance with the schematic layout of the phase-field simulation system as shown in Figure 3 to produce stable microdroplets on various insulating surfaces. Basic geometry and boundary conditions from our earlier simulation work for e-jet printing [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] were employed in the axisymmetric model.…”

Eco-friendly screen printing of silver nanowires for flexible and stretchable electronics

“…[4][5][6] However, EHD printing suffers from low throughput which hinders its applicability at the commercial level. 7 Gravure printing, on the other hand, is a contact-based printing method and is suitable for large-scale applications due to its low cost, high speed, and compatibility with roll-to-roll processes. 8 However, the issue of ink drag-out from the cells during doctor blade wiping can lead to deteriorated pattern fidelity.…”