Laser-assisted direct ink writing of planar and 3D metal architectures.

ABSTRACT: The ability to pattern planar and freestanding 3D metallic architectures at the microscale would enable myriad applications, including flexible electronics, displays, sensors, and electrically small antennas. A 3D printing method is introduced that combines direct ink writing with a focused laser that locally anneals printed metallic features "on-the-fly." To optimize the nozzle-to-laser separation distance, the heat transfer along the printed silver wire is modeled as a function of printing speed, laser intensity, and pulse duration. Laser-assisted direct ink writing is used to pattern highly conductive, ductile metallic interconnects, springs, and freestanding spiral architectures on flexible and rigid substrates.

SUBMITTER: Skylar-Scott MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4896727 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature