Inkjet printing technology, first developed in the late 1950s, has revolutionized the printing industry with its capability to produce high-quality, high-resolution images at a low cost. It has found applications across a wide range of industries, including textiles, electronics, packaging, and more. In recent years, the development of new materials and contactless printing applications has introduced new possibilities for inkjet printing across various sectors.Progress in printhead technologies, material science, and manufacturing processes has markedly enhanced the capabilities of inkjet printers. With the increasing number of printable materials, inkjet printing has discovered applications in an expanding variety of industries and processes. At present, inkjet printing technology can be employed to deposit a diverse array of functional materials onto assorted surfaces, further expanding the applicability of inkjet printing in multiple industries.Inkjet printing for solar cell manufacturingInkjet printing has emerged as a promising alternative to screen printing for the application of silver paste. The silver paste can be deposited directly onto the surface of the solar cell through very minuscule openings of a highly efficient, parallel print head, providing a contactless, maskless printing alternative to conventional processes. This printing process provides the PV industry with multifaceted benefits over conventional screen printing, such as increased efficiency and electricity output, reduced metal paste consumption, and significant throughput potential. (<a href="https://1788947.hubspotpreview-na1.com/how-Electroforming-is-empowering-the-photovoltaics-industry-moving-forward" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Learn more about how our technology empowers Inkjet Printing technology to revolutionize the PV industry here:</a> <a href="https://insights.vecoprecision.com/how-Electroforming-is-empowering-the-photovoltaics-industry-moving-forward" target="_blank">https://insights.vecoprecision.com/how-Electroforming-is-empowering-the-photovoltaics-industry-moving-forward</a>)<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgxMzA0OTAwMTcyLTE2ODEzMDQ5MDAxNzIucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 756px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Inkjet Printing Across Industries: Flexible Electronics, Biomedical Applications, Electronic Displays, and MoreIn addition to the use of silver paste in the&nbsp;<a href="https://1788947.hubspotpreview-na1.com/how-Electroforming-is-empowering-the-photovoltaics-industry-moving-forward" rel="noopener" target="_blank">manufacturing of solar cells</a>, inkjet printing has also been used to deposit other types of functional materials onto various surfaces. For example, conductive inks can be used to print circuitry onto flexible substrates, such as plastic and fabric, to create flexible electronics. Inkjet printing has also been used to deposit materials for use in the biomedical field, such as living cells onto scaffolds to create tissue-engineered constructs for use in regenerative medicine.Another area where inkjet printing has been used is in the production of electronic displays, including the conductive layers, the active matrix, and the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).&nbsp;The Technology Empowering Contactless Printing Breakthroughs Across IndustriesA vital part of the dispensing print head is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/products/inkjet-nozzle-plates/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">high-precision nozzle plate</a>, produced using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/electroforming/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Electroforming, a micro-precision, metal additive manufacturing (AM) process</a> combining lithography and electrodeposition. The nozzle plate is a thin metal part with miniature holes, through which advanced materials can be directly deposited via the nozzles onto versatile surfaces for endless applications across industries.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;It is the complicated combination of accuracy, precision, material properties, and unique geometries enabled by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/electroforming/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Electroforming</a><a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/electroforming/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>that makes the plate an essential part of the dispensing print head. The miniature holes need to be down to several microns and perfectly circular. Traditional cutting and drilling processes might not meet the stringent accuracy and precision requirements, and etching and laser processes could result in thermal stress and microburrs.&nbsp;Electroforming, on the other hand, does not influence metal properties such as hardness, grain structure, or ductility. It allows for the realization of high-precision products that are thermal stress- and microburr-free, providing absolute accuracy and high aspect ratios.Another significant advantage of&nbsp;Electroforming&nbsp;is reproducibility. The process affords a precision of approximately 5 &mu;m. In a plate that has&nbsp;hundreds of&nbsp;miniature nozzles in a straight line, each of those nozzles needs to be the correct size, not only on each plate but on every plate and across different batches of the plate.&nbsp;Electroforming&nbsp;guarantees reproducibility, meaning the same drawing and process setup translates to perfectly uniform and reproducible printing results and the exact same product time and time again.Electroforming&nbsp;can also be used to produce special hole geometries; for example, bell mouth-shaped holes are not achievable using traditional cutting and drilling processes. These holes can effectively reduce blinding/clogging of the plate/nozzles, thus ensuring exceptional paste release performance.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgxMzA0NjgyMTg2LTE2ODEzMDQ2ODIxODYucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="inkjet hole shape" width="2003" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 755px;">A Bright Future for Inkjet Printing Technology Enabled by ElectroformingAs advancements in printhead technologies, material science, and manufacturing processes continue to progress, the potential applications for inkjet printing across various industries will only grow. With its ability to deposit a diverse array of functional materials onto assorted surfaces, inkjet printing has established itself as a groundbreaking technology that can revolutionize not only the printing industry but also endless sectors.The future of inkjet printing technology is promising, and its continued development is likely to further expand its applications and drive innovations across numerous industries. By embracing and leveraging the power of advanced inkjet printing technology and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/electroforming/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">advanced lithographic Electroforming</a> technology, engineers and researchers alike can unlock new possibilities and create cutting-edge solutions to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.Inkjet printing has come a long way since its inception in the 1950s. The development of new materials and contactless printing applications has opened up new possibilities for inkjet printing in various industries. Inkjet printing can now be used to deposit a wide range of functional materials onto various surfaces, including conductive inks for flexible electronics, living cells for tissue engineering, and silver paste for solar cells. As inkjet printing technology continues to evolve, we will likely see even more innovative applications of this technology in the future.To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/electroforming/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Electroforming</a> and how it can empower your next innovation,&nbsp;<a href="https://1788947.hubspotpreview-na1.com/en/whitepaper-electroforming" rel="noopener" target="_blank">download our whitepaper Electroforming here:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://insights.vecoprecision.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=8681c2ee-0a4a-407d-9e8c-85b23a7efd3f&signature=AAH58kGHY_No8Ht4QxjSAvFwc71E5Tj5OQ&pageId=108651819679&placement_guid=056f005b-1e5e-49f9-b6d2-99830614eb56&click=5e6e53fc-9be4-4a6a-8053-5f655a480961&hsutk=&canon=https%3A%2F%2Finsights.vecoprecision.com%2Ffrom-solar-cells-to-endless-applications-across-industries-inkjet-printing-revolution-enabled-by-electroforming-technology&portal_id=1788947&redirect_url=APefjpEcgqNObbaV8BMI4KFMyYyMOd4yRDPcalEGsvL_DyahUIMNlPeoe2hS7Ew3w5nOSePlFrVkpKWMljbZWjkeuZs7JN8IKfOPByiBLz-OZmcfx_hHncg8MgnrgDT32Vsfhp2d6orZufw0LQUDWxafhzPrcIGIZw" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="New Call-to-action" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjgxMzA0NjcyMzE4LTE2ODEzMDQ2NzIzMTgucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></a>

Progress in printhead technologies, material science, and manufacturing processes has markedly enhanced the capabilities of inkjet printers. Inkjet printing has now discovered applications in an expanding variety of industries and processes.

From solar cells to endless applications across industries: inkjet printing revolution enabled by Electroforming technology

<section id="isPasted">3D printing has become mainstream. For a few hundred euros you can buy a 3D printer online. But what about 4D printing? How do you print an object that can change over time, for example by reacting to touch, light or moisture? It turns out that this is not as easy as you might think. PhD student&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/jeroen-sol/" target="_blank">Jeroen Sol</a>&nbsp;took up the challenge. He found inspiration in the world of the longhorn beetle and other animals that use iridescence and other forms of color change.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QIsbWZCd1tE?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" style="width: 767px; height: 508px;" data-gtm-yt-inspected-11="true" id="121381428" title="Emulating nature, 3D-printed beetle changes colour under the influence of water"></iframe>Under the influence of moisture, the color of the 3D printed beetle changes from green to red, and back again to red (photo: Bart van Overbeeke).Sol&#39;s <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/stimuli-responsive-functional-materials-devices/" target="_blank">research group</a>, led by professor Albert Schenning, has extensive experience with smart materials that respond to external stimuli, such as light, temperature or humidity. The materials use liquid crystal technology, similar to the techniques used in LCD screens, but applied in plastics. These crystals acquire different properties depending on the direction in which they are aligned (they become <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropy" target="_blank">anisotropic</a>). This can be either mechanical, in which case they become stronger in one direction than in the other, or optical, in which case they have a different color depending on the angle of incidence of the light.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU4MzIzODM4NTUxLWNzbV84MDBweC1UbWVzaXN0ZXJudXNfaXNhYmVsbGFlXy1fRmxpY2tyXy1fQmVubnlib3ltb3RobWFuXzZiMGU0NzU3MGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 765px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The Tmesisternus isabellae is a species of beetle in the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae). Under the influence of moisture, its elytra changes from green to red (Image: Ben Sale | CC BY 2.0)<h2 id="isPasted">An iridescendent beetle</h2>The latter is exactly what Sol has been working on for the past four years. Is it possible to print an object that changes color under the influence of humidity? &quot;I found the inspiration for this in nature, and in particular in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tmesisternus_isabellae#:~:text=Tmesisternus%20isabellae%20is%20a%20species%20of%20beetle%20in,is%20known%20from%20Papua%20New%20Guinea%20and%20Indonesia." target="_blank">Tmesisternus isabellae</a>, a species of longhorn beetle whose elytra changes color in response to humidity.&quot;That Sol chose moisture as a stimulus, rather than light (as PhD student Marina Pilz da Cunha from the same research group did earlier for her <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/walking-plastic-delivers-packages/" target="_blank">walking mini-robot</a>), is not an accident. &quot;Humans are largely composed of water, and a sensor that can easily and cheaply be printed using a 3D printer, and that responds to moisture, could have all kinds of applications in healthcare. Think of a ring that measures perspiration, or in the future maybe your blood sugar.&quot;But Sol went a step further. He actually printed a beetle. &quot;In the world of materials science it is very important that you make a demonstrator that proves that your invention actually works. And the choice of an animal is obvious, because there are numerous animals that make use of iridescence and other forms of color change, for example for camouflage.&quot;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU4MzIzOTQyMzUyLWNzbV9maWczX0VOLTAxXzVjN2FjOWU5OWEucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 765px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">A bath of acid</h2>But how does this beetle work? Sol explains. &quot;First I printed a beetle from hard plastic, and applied elytra to it with photonic ink. This was also done with a printer. I then treated this layer with an acid. This causes the crystals in the ink to react to moisture. With more moisture, the material swells, so to speak, stretching the spiral structure of the crystals. This then changes the color (see figure).&quot;Watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=G5Q8NhtxT2U&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">YouTube</a> clip to see how Jeroen Sol printed the beetle.The beauty is that you can manipulate sensitivity to moisture, by making the molecules less or more charged. &quot;That opens up all kinds of possibilities for future applications.&quot;Next, the researcher placed the beetle in an enclosed space where he could control the humidity. With more moisture, the green beetle slowly became redder and redder. If he brought the moisture level back down, the beetle turned green again.&quot;The latter is crucial,&quot; says Sol. &quot;That means the effect is reversible. Without the user having to reset it, it can be used again as a sensor or actuator.&quot;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU4MzIzOTcwODE5LWNzbV9Cdk9GIDIwMjJfMDYwN19BRksgLSBKZXJvZW4gU29sIG1ldCA0RC1nZXByaW50ZSBrZXZlcnNfNWY2ZmE1NjBiNi5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 765px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Researcher Jeroen Sol with the 4D-printed beetles (photo: Bart van Overbeeke)&nbsp;<h2 id="isPasted">Future</h2>The young researcher talks about his research with infectious enthusiasm. &quot;I think it&#39;s very important that we make it clear to the outside world what scientists are doing. People really don&#39;t need to understand every detail, but they do need to know what we are up to. That&#39;s why I like teaching so much. Transferring knowledge to other people.&quot;The researcher has since found a new job at a spin-off of his research group,&nbsp;<a href="https://lusoco.com/" target="_blank">Lusoco</a>. The company is working on the development of fluorescent inks for lighting, power generation and buildings, for example.&quot;I&#39;m really looking forward to that. Moreover, the company is located on campus, so for now I won&#39;t be leaving here!&quot;<h2>More info</h2>Jeroen Sol e.a.,&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.202201766" target="_blank">Direct Ink Writing of 4D Structural Colors</a>, Advanced Functional Materials.Jeroen Sol, <a data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" href="https://pure.tue.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/197812781/20220330_Sol_hf.pdf" target="_blank">Cholesteric Liquid Crystals in Additive Manufacturing</a>&nbsp;(thesis); promotors: Albert Schenning, Michael Debije.<hr>This article was first published here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/30-06-2022-the-4d-printed-beetle-that-changes-color-when-it-gets-wetter/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/30-06-2022-the-4d-printed-beetle-that-changes-color-when-it-gets-wetter/</a></section>

How iridescent animals are leading the way to smart sensors.

The 4D-printed beetle that changes color when it gets wetter

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