Inkjet Printing of Functional and Electronic Structures

Flexible and efficient functionalization of products and surfaces

Printed electronics refers to electronic components that are manufactured entirely or partially using printing processes.

Inkjet technology can be used to produce three-dimensional electrical structures and enables printing on large and flexible substrates.

Pick-and-place technology enables the creation of complex circuits through hybrid integration, allowing conventional components like integrated circuits and passive elements to be placed directly on printed structures.

 

 

Inks & materials for printed electronics

The inks are often organic solvents that are filled with electrically conductive, inorganic particles. The subsequent sintering process makes it possible to achieve a sufficient level of electrical conductivity of the printed structure.

In the field of printed electronics, inkjet allows a choice from a variety of functional materials

• Solvent- and water-based inks
• Conductive nanoparticle inks (silver or copper)
• Resistive nanoparticle inks (carbon)
• UV curable inks (dielectric materials)

 

 

Post processing – a vital step in establishing conductivity

After printing, the ink must be post-treated in order to achieve the required electrical and mechanical properties.

• Pinning with UV light to increase the viscosity after the printing process
• Drying and sintering using infrared light
• Photonic sintering with a pulsed xenon light source

 

 

Advantages of digitally printed electronics

• Flexible and thin circuits with a high degree of customization
• Cost-effective production even of small batch sizes
• Great freedom in design thanks to multilayer and multi-material printing
• Sustainable and resource-efficient process