Characteristics Improvement of PEDOT:PSS Transparent Conductive Film Prepared by Ink-Jet Printing

Recently, a high-performance and low-priced transparent conductive film has been expected to be developed because flexible devices produced using organic materials have been actively studied. An indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film, which has been generally used as a material for a transparent conductive film, has problems, such as fragility to bending stress and depletion of the resource. The present study used poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), an organic electroconductive material, and examined the improvement in the resistance value and visible light transmittance of a transparent conductive film produced using the ink-jet method. In previous studies, we reported that, to improve the resistance value and visible light transmittance of a thin film, it was effective to clean the film substrate with ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) treatment, anneal the film after it was deposited on the substance, and dip the annealed film into a polar solvent. Focusing on the thin film processing between printing operations, the present study improved resistance value and visible light transmittance by examining both the application methods of a polar solvent and the annealing time between printing operations. As a result, the resistance value and visible light transmittance of a PEDOT:PSS thin film were 390.4 Ω and 86.6%, respectively. This film was obtained by applying a polar solvent and performing annealing for 30 min between printing operations. The printing was performed three times.

The Effect of Silica Particle Size on the Performance of Color Ink-jet Printing Paper

In this paper,the effects of four sorts of silica with the particle size range of 4～10μm on coated paper properties and printing performance were studied.The results showed that the smaller particle size silica can provide the coated paper with higher density and contrast, better definition and good printing performance.

Preparation of PDOT:PSS Transparent Conductive Film Using Ink-Jet Printing

Flexible devices produced using organic materials have attracted the attention of many researchers. Important components of these flexible devices include transparent electrodes, which transmit visible light and possess conductivity. The present study improved the characteristics of a transparent conductive film that was made of poly(3, 4 ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesul-fonate) (PEDOT:PSS), an organic conductive material, and that had been prepared using ink-jet printing. To improve the resistance value and visible light transmittance of the film, the film substrate was first cleaned with ultraviolet/ozone treatment, and then the film was annealed after it was deposited on the substrate and dipped into a polar solvent. Consequently, the resistance value of the thin film decreased. However, the surface state of the film changed according to the treatment method and affected its visible light transmittance. Thus, the surface state of the film substrate, the annealing temperature after film deposition, and the dipping treatment with a polar solvent influenced the characteristics of a thin film.

Application of nonlinear color matching model to four-color ink-jet printing

Through discussing the color matching technology and its application in printing industry the conventional approaches commonly used in color matching, and the difficulties in color matching, a nonlinear color matching model based on two step learning is established by finding a linear model by learning pure color data first and then a nonlinear modification model by learning mixed color data. Nonlinear multiple regression is used to fit the parameters of the modification model. Nonlinear modification function is discovered by BACON system by learning mixture data. Experiment results indicate that nonlinear color conversion by two step learning can further improve the accuracy when it is used for straightforward conversion from RGB to CMYK. An improved separation model based on GCR concept is proposed to solve the problem of gray balance and it can be used for three to four color conversion as well. The method proposed has better learning ability and faster printing speed than other historical approaches when it is applied to four color ink jet printing.

Modified Dye for Water-Fast Ink-Jet Printing

A quaternary ammonium compound containing amino acid residue was synthesized by Converting 3-chloro-2-hydroxy- propyalkyldimethylammonium chlorides into its epoxide derivatives, then attaching an amino acid to the epoxide derivatives synthesized a quaternary ammonium compound containing amino acid residue. Modified dyes were prepared by the ionotropy of anionic dyes with the quaternary ammonium compound containing amino acid residue. It was discovered that the modified dyes exhibited an excellent pH controllable solubility. These modified dyes have good water solubility at pH> 8.0, but they were water insoluble at pH < 6.5. On the printing paper, modified dyes in water-based ink-jet print ink could convert to water insoluble form and give prints excellent water fastness.

Droplet morphology analysis of drop-on-demand inkjet printing

As an accurate 2D/3D fabrication tool,inkjet printing technology has great potential in preparation of micro electronic devices.The morphology of droplets produced by the inkjet printer has a great impact on the accuracy of deposition.In this study,the drop-on-demand(DoD)inkjet simulation model was established,and the accuracy of the simulation model was verified by corresponding experiments.The simulation result shows that the velocity of the droplet front and tail,as well as the time to disconnect from the nozzle is mainly affected by density(ρ),viscosity(μ)and surface tension(σ)of droplets.When the liquid filament is about to disconnect from the nozzle,the filament length and filament front velocity are found to have a linear correlation withσ/ρμand ln(ρ/(μσ1/2)).

Correction:Jetting-based bioprinting:process,dispense physics,and applications

The article Jetting-based bioprinting:process,dispense physics,and applications,written by Wei Long Ng and Viktor Shkolnikov,was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal on 12 July 2024 without open access.

3D printing in space:from mechanical structures to living tissues

3D printing stands at the forefront of transforming space exploration,offering unprecedented on-demand and rapid manufacturing capabilities.It adeptly addresses challenges such as mass reduction,intricate component fabrication,and resource constraints.Despite the obstacles posed by microgravity and extreme environments,continual advancements underscore the pivotal role of 3D printing in aerospace science.Beyond its primary function of producing space structures,3D printing contributes significantly to progress in electronics,biomedicine,and resource optimization.This perspective delves into the technological advantages,environmental challenges,development status,and opportunities of 3D printing in space.Envisioning its crucial impact,we anticipate that 3D printing will unlock innovative solutions,reshape manufacturing practices,and foster self-sufficiency in future space endeavors.

In-situ defect passivation assisted three-step printing of efficient and stable formamidine-lead bromide solar cells

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)emerge as the most promising photovoltaics(PV)for their high performance and potential convenient cost-effective production routes comparing to the sophomore PV technologies.The printed PSCs with simplified device architecture and fabrication procedures could further enhance the competitive strength of PSC technology.In this work,we present an in-situ defect passivation(ISDP)assisted full-printing of high performance formamidine-lead bromide(FAPbBr_(3))PSCs.Only three rapid printing steps are involved for electron transporting layer(ETL),perovskite and carbon to form a complete solar cell on the low-cost fluorine-doped tin oxide(FTO)substrate.Long-chain polymer monomethyl ether polyethylene glycol is particularly utilized as the ISDP passivator,leading to conformal coating on the rough FTO and defect passivation for both ETL and perovskite during printing.A high efficiency of 10.85%(certified 10.14%)and a high V_(oc)up to 1.57 V are achieved for the printed device.The unencapsulated PSCs maintain above 90%of the initial efficiency after continuously heating at 85℃for 1000 h and over 80%of the efficiency after the maximum power point tracking for 3500 h.The fully printed semitransparent PSCs with carbon grids(CGs)show average visible light transmittance over 33%and an efficiency of 8.81%.

Light-based 3D printing of stimulus-responsive hydrogels forminiature devices:recent progress and perspective

Miniature devices comprising stimulus-responsive hydrogels with high environmental adaptability are now considered competitive candidates in the fields of biomedicine,precise sensors,and tunable optics.Reliable and advanced fabricationmethods are critical formaximizing the application capabilities ofminiature devices.Light-based three-dimensional(3D)printing technology offers the advantages of a wide range of applicable materials,high processing accuracy,and strong 3D fabrication capability,which is suitable for the development of miniature devices with various functions.This paper summarizes and highlights the recent advances in light-based 3D-printed miniaturized devices,with a focus on the latest breakthroughs in lightbased fabrication technologies,smart stimulus-responsive hydrogels,and tunable miniature devices for the fields of miniature cargo manipulation,targeted drug and cell delivery,active scaffolds,environmental sensing,and optical imaging.Finally,the challenges in the transition of tunable miniaturized devices from the laboratory to practical engineering applications are presented.Future opportunities that will promote the development of tunable microdevices are elaborated,contributing to their improved understanding of these miniature devices and further realizing their practical applications in various fields.

Two-photon polymerization-based 4D printing and its applications

Two-photon polymerization(TPP)is a cutting-edge micro/nanoscale three-dimensional(3D)printing technology based on the principle of two-photon absorption.TPP surpasses the diffraction limit in achieving feature sizes and excels in fabricating intricate 3D micro/nanostructures with exceptional resolution.The concept of 4D entails the fabrication of structures utilizing smart materials capable of undergoing shape,property,or functional changes in response to external stimuli over time.The integration of TPP and 4D printing introduces the possibility of producing responsive structures with micro/nanoscale accuracy,thereby enhancing the capabilities and potential applications of both technologies.This paper comprehensively reviews TPP-based 4D printing technology and its diverse applications.First,the working principles of TPP and its recent advancements are introduced.Second,the optional4D printing materials suitable for fabrication with TPP are discussed.Finally,this review paper highlights several noteworthy applications of TPP-based 4D printing,including domains such as biomedical microrobots,bioinspired microactuators,autonomous mobile microrobots,transformable devices and robots,as well as anti-counterfeiting microdevices.In conclusion,this paper provides valuable insights into the current status and future prospects of TPP-based4D printing technology,thereby serving as a guide for researchers and practitioners.

Effect of navigation endoscopy combined with threedimensional printing technology in the treatment of orbital blowout fractures

●AIM:To explore the combined application of surgical navigation nasal endoscopy(NNE)and three-dimensional printing technology(3DPT)for the adjunctive treatment of orbital blowout fractures(OBF).●METHODS:Retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of patients with OBF who underwent surgical treatment at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University between July 2012 and November 2022.The control group consisted of patients who received traditional surgical treatment(n=43),while the new surgical group(n=52)consisted of patients who received NNE with 3DPT.The difference in therapeutic effects between the two groups was evaluated by comparing the duration of the operation,best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),enophthalmos difference,recovery rate of eye movement disorder,recovery rate of diplopia,and incidence of postoperative complications.●RESULTS:The study included 95 cases(95 eyes),with 63 men and 32 women.The patients’age ranged from 5 to 67y(35.21±15.75y).The new surgical group and the control group exhibited no statistically significant differences in the duration of the operation,BCVA and enophthalmos difference.The recovery rates of diplopia in the new surgical group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 1mo[OR=0.03,95%CI(0.01–0.15),P<0.0000]and 3mo[OR=0.11,95%CI(0.03–0.36),P<0.0000]postoperation.Additionally,the recovery rates of eye movement disorders at 1 and 3mo after surgery were OR=0.08,95%CI(0.03–0.24),P<0.0000;and OR=0.01,95%CI(0.00–0.18),P<0.0000.The incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the new surgical group compared to the control group[OR=4.86,95%CI(0.95–24.78),P<0.05].●CONCLUSION:The combination of NNE and 3DPT can shorten the recovery time of diplopia and eye movement disorder in patients with OBF.

3D printing encouraging desired in-situ polypyrrole seed-polymerization for ultra-high energy density supercapacitors

The tireless pursuit of supercapacitors with high energy density entails the parallel advancement of wellsuited electrode materials and elaborately engineered architectures.Polypyrrole(PPy)emerges as an exceedingly conductive polymer and a prospective pseudocapacitive materials for supercapacitors,yet the inferior cyclic stability and unpredictable polymerization patterns severely impede its real-world applicability.Here,for the first time,an innovative seed-induced in-situ polymerization assisted 3D printing strategy is proposed to fabricate PPy-reduced graphene oxide/poly(vinylidene difluoride-cohexafluoropropylene)(PVDF-HFP)(PPy-rGO/PH)electrodes with controllable polymerization behavior and exceptional areal mass loading.The preferred active sites uniformly pre-planted on the 3D-printed graphene substrates serve as reliable seeds to induce efficient polypyrrole deposition,achieving an impressive mass loading of 185.6 mg cm^(-2)(particularly 79.2 mg cm^(-2)for polypyrrole)and a superior areal capacitance of 25.2 F cm^(-2)at 2 mA cm^(-2)for a 12-layer electrode.In agreement with theses appealing features,an unprecedented areal energy density of 1.47 mW h cm^(-2)for a symmetrical device is registered,a rarely achieved value for other PPy/rGO-based supercapacitors.This work highlights a promising route to preparing high energy density energy storage modules for real-world applications.

Biomimetic 3D printing of composite structures with decreased cracking

The development of tissue engineering and regeneration research has created new platforms for bone transplantation.However,the preparation of scaffolds with good fiber integrity is challenging,because scaffolds prepared by traditional printing methods are prone to fiber cracking during solvent evaporation.Human skin has an excellent natural heat-management system,which helps to maintain a constant body temperature through perspiration or blood-vessel constriction.In this work,an electrohydrodynamic-jet 3D-printing method inspired by the thermal-management system of skin was developed.In this system,the evaporation of solvent in the printed fibers can be adjusted using the temperature-change rate of the substrate to prepare 3D structures with good structural integrity.To investigate the solvent evaporation and the interlayer bonding of the fibers,finite-element analysis simulations of a three-layer microscale structure were carried out.The results show that the solvent-evaporation path is from bottom to top,and the strain in the printed structure becomes smaller with a smaller temperaturechange rate.Experimental results verified the accuracy of these simulation results,and a variety of complex 3D structures with high aspect ratios were printed.Microscale cracks were reduced to the nanoscale by adjusting the temperature-change rate from 2.5 to 0.5℃s-1.Optimized process parameters were selected to prepare a tissue engineering scaffold with high integrity.It was confirmed that this printed scaffold had good biocompatibility and could be used for bone-tissue regeneration.This simple and flexible 3D-printing method can also help with the preparation of a wide range of micro-and nanostructured sensors and actuators.

Digital light processing based multimaterial 3D printing:challenges,solutions and perspectives

Multimaterial(MM)3D printing shows great potential for application in metamaterials,flexible electronics,biomedical devices and robots,since it can seamlessly integrate distinctive materials into one printed structure.Among numerous MM 3D printing technologies,digital light processing(DLP)MM 3D printing is compatible with a wide range of materials from hydrogels to ceramics,and can print MM 3D structures with high resolution,high complexity and fast speed.This paper introduces the fundamental mechanisms of DLP 3D printing,and reviews the recent advances of DLP MM 3D printing technologies with emphasis on material switching methods and material contamination issues.It also summarizes a number of typical examples of DLP MM 3D printing systems developed in the past decade,and introduces their system structures,working principles,material switching methods,residual resin removal methods,printing steps,as well as the representative structures and applications.Finally,we provide perspectives on the directions of the further development of DLP MM 3D printing technology.

Investigation on mechanical properties regulation of rock-like specimens based on 3D printing and similarity quantification

3D printing is widely adopted to quickly produce rock mass models with complex structures in batches,improving the consistency and repeatability of physical modeling.It is necessary to regulate the mechanical properties of 3D-printed specimens to make them proportionally similar to natural rocks.This study investigates mechanical properties of 3D-printed rock analogues prepared by furan resin-bonded silica sand particles.The mechanical property regulation of 3D-printed specimens is realized through quantifying its similarity to sandstone,so that analogous deformation characteristics and failure mode are acquired.Considering similarity conversion,uniaxial compressive strength,cohesion and stress–strain relationship curve of 3D-printed specimen are similar to those of sandstone.In the study ranges,the strength of 3D-printed specimen is positively correlated with the additive content,negatively correlated with the sand particle size,and first increases then decreases with the increase of curing temperature.The regulation scheme with optimal similarity quantification index,that is the sand type of 70/140,additive content of 2.5‰and curing temperature of 81.6℃,is determined for preparing 3D-printed sandstone analogues and models.The effectiveness of mechanical property regulation is proved through uniaxial compression contrast tests.This study provides a reference for preparing rock-like specimens and engineering models using 3D printing technology.

High Colloidal Stable Carbon Dots Armored Liquid Metal Nano-Droplets for Versatile 3D/4D Printing Through Digital Light Processing(DLP)

Liquid metal(LM)and liquid metal alloys(LMs)possess unique physicochemical features,which have become emerging and functionalized materials that are attractive applicants in various fields.Herein,uniform LM nanodroplets armored by carbon dots(LMD@CDs)were prepared and exhibited high colloidal stability in various solvents,as well as water.After optimization,LMD@CDs can be applied as functional additives for the 3D/4D printing of hydrogel and cross-linked resin through digital light processing(DLP).The light absorption of LMD@CDs not only improved the printing accuracy,but also led to the cross-linking density differential during the post-curing process.Base on the cross-linking density differential of soft hydrogel and photothermal performance of the LM,the 3D printed objects can exhibit stimulus responses to both water and laser irradiation.Additionally,the CDs shell and LM core of LMD@CDs provide the printed objects interesting photoluminescence and electric conductivity capabilities,respectively.We deduce this versatile 3D/4D printing system would provide a new platform for the preparation of multi-functional and stimuli-responsive advance materials.

Extrusion 3D printing of carbon nanotube-assembled carbon aerogel nanocomposites with high electrical conductivity

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs)with high aspect ratio and excellent electrical conduction offer huge functional improvements for current carbon aerogels.However,there remains a major challenge for achieving the on-demand shaping of carbon aerogels with tailored micro-nano structural textures and geometric features.Herein,a facile extrusion 3D printing strategy has been proposed for fabricating CNT-assembled carbon(CNT/C)aerogel nanocomposites through the extrusion printing of pseudoplastic carbomer-based inks,in which the stable dispersion of CNT nanofibers has been achieved relying on the high viscosity of carbomer microgels.After extrusion printing,the chemical solidification through polymerizing RF sols enables 3D-printed aerogel nanocomposites to display high shape fidelity in macroscopic geometries.Benefiting from the micro-nano scale assembly of CNT nanofiber networks and carbon nanoparticle networks in composite phases,3D-printed CNT/C aerogels exhibit enhanced mechanical strength(fracture strength,0.79 MPa)and typical porous structure characteristics,including low density(0.220 g cm^(-3)),high surface area(298.4 m^(2)g^(-1)),and concentrated pore diameter distribution(~32.8nm).More importantly,CNT nanofibers provide an efficient electron transport pathway,imparting 3D-printed CNT/C aerogel composites with a high electrical conductivity of 1.49 S cm^(-1).Our work would offer feasible guidelines for the design and fabrication of shape-dominated functional materials by additive manufacturing.

Pioneering the direct large-scale laser printing of flexible“graphenic silicon”self-standing thin films as ultrahigh-performance lithium-ion battery anodes

Recent technological advancements,such as portable electronics and electric vehicles,have created a pressing need for more efficient energy storage solutions.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have been the preferred choice for these applications,with graphite being the standard anode material due to its stability.However,graphite falls short of meeting the growing demand for higher energy density,possessing a theoretical capacity that lags behind.To address this,researchers are actively seeking alternative materials to replace graphite in commercial batteries.One promising avenue involves lithiumalloying materials like silicon and phosphorus,which offer high theoretical capacities.Carbon-silicon composites have emerged as a viable option,showing improved capacity and performance over traditional graphite or pure silicon anodes.Yet,the existing methods for synthesizing these composites remain complex,energy-intensive,and costly,preventing widespread adoption.A groundbreaking approach is presented here:the use of a laser writing strategy to rapidly transform common organic carbon precursors and silicon blends into efficient“graphenic silicon”composite thin films.These films exhibit exceptional structural and energy storage properties.The resulting three-dimensional porous composite anodes showcase impressive attributes,including ultrahigh silicon content,remarkable cyclic stability(over 4500 cycles with∼40%retention),rapid charging rates(up to 10 A g^(-1)),substantial areal capacity(>5.1 mAh cm^(-2)),and excellent gravimetric capacity(>2400 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1)).This strategy marks a significant step toward the scalable production of high-performance LIB materials.Leveraging widely available,cost-effective precursors,the laser-printed“graphenic silicon”composites demonstrate unparalleled performance,potentially streamlining anode production while maintaining exceptional capabilities.This innovation not only paves the way for advanced LIBs but also sets a precedent for transforming various materials into high-performing electrodes,promising reduced complexity and cost in battery production.

Polar-coordinate line-projection light-curing continuous 3D printing for tubular structures

3D printing techniques offer an effective method in fabricating complex radially multi-material structures.However,it is challenging for complex and delicate radially multi-material model geometries without supporting structures,such as tissue vessels and tubular graft,among others.In this work,we tackle these challenges by developing a polar digital light processing technique which uses a rod as the printing platform.The 3D model fabrication is accomplished through line projection.The rotation and translation of the rod are synchronized to project and illuminate the photosensitive material volume.By controlling the distance between the rod and the printing window,we achieved the printing of tubular structures with a minimum wall thickness as thin as 50 micrometers.By controlling the width of fine slits at the printing window,we achieved the printing of structures with a minimum feature size of 10 micrometers.Our process accomplished the fabrication of thin-walled tubular graft structure with a thickness of only 100 micrometers and lengths of several centimeters within a timeframe of just 100 s.Additionally,it enables the printing of axial multi-material structures,thereby achieving adjustable mechanical strength.This method is conducive to rapid customization of tubular grafts and the manufacturing of tubular components in fields such as dentistry,aerospace,and more.