We present a general principle of topography-directed (TD) inkjet printing for functional micro-tracks embedded in a flexible elastomer substrate. The essential features of the TD inkjet printing in a micro-structured substrate with periodic grooves and ridges are described in terms of the topographic parameters for the transformation from a single droplet to a filament or an edge-disjoint pattern of ink in the groove. Silver ink, being widely used for producing conductive wires by conventional inkjet printing, is utilized as a testbed in our study. The underlying mechanisms for the spreading and drying processes of ink drops under the topographic compartment can be understood in a two-dimensional parameter space of the aspect ratio of the groove and the contact angle of ink on the substrate. The wetting morphologies of ink droplets are described in an analytical model where the Laplace pressure and the mean curvature at the vapor/ink interface are taken into account. The first principle of the TD inkjet printing would be applicable for constructing a variety of functional micro-tracks with high pattern fidelity from different classes of solutions such as conducting polymers, organic semiconductors, and colloidal nanoparticles.
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Principle of topography-directed inkjet printing for functional micro-tracks in flexible substrates
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28 June 2017
Research Article|
June 26 2017
Principle of topography-directed inkjet printing for functional micro-tracks in flexible substrates
Chang-Min Keum;
Chang-Min Keum
a)
1
School of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University
, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-ku, Seoul 08826, South Korea
2
Department of Physics, Kent State University
, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA
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In-Ho Lee;
In-Ho Lee
1
School of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University
, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-ku, Seoul 08826, South Korea
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Hea-Lim Park;
Hea-Lim Park
1
School of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University
, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-ku, Seoul 08826, South Korea
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Chiwoo Kim
;
Chiwoo Kim
1
School of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University
, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-ku, Seoul 08826, South Korea
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Björn Lüssem;
Björn Lüssem
2
Department of Physics, Kent State University
, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA
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Jong Sun Choi;
Jong Sun Choi
3
School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Hongik University
, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-ku, Seoul 04066, South Korea
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Sin-Doo Lee
Sin-Doo Lee
b)
1
School of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University
, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-ku, Seoul 08826, South Korea
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a)
This research was performed while C.-M. Keum was at the Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
b)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: sidlee@plaza.snu.ac.kr
J. Appl. Phys. 121, 244902 (2017)
Article history
Received:
March 19 2017
Accepted:
June 11 2017
Citation
Chang-Min Keum, In-Ho Lee, Hea-Lim Park, Chiwoo Kim, Björn Lüssem, Jong Sun Choi, Sin-Doo Lee; Principle of topography-directed inkjet printing for functional micro-tracks in flexible substrates. J. Appl. Phys. 28 June 2017; 121 (24): 244902. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4989837
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