Inspiring Objects

Perpetuum (Peter Vogel, 2015)

Week in Brief (6 –10 November)

Credit: the University of Nottingham. A schematic diagram showing how UV irradiation heats and solidifies conductive and dielectric inks to form the letter N with silver tracks that connect a green LED to a power source.

A method allowing fully functional electronic circuits to be 3D printed has been developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham, UK. The method, using electrically-conductive metallic inks and insulating polymeric inks, involves a UV light rapidly solidifying the inks. Silver nanoparticles absorb the heat energy from the UV light, fusing together. The polymeric inks are then converted into solids using the same LED-based UV light.

Professor Chris Tuck, Professor of Materials Engineering and lead investigator of the study, commented, ‘Being able to 3D print conductive and dielectric materials (electrical insulators) in a single structure with the high precision that inkjet printing offers, will enable the fabrication of fully customised electronic components. You don’t have to select standard values for capacitors when you design a circuit, you just set the value and the printer will produce the component for you.’

This development could allow the future manufacturing of functional components such as printed sensors from various materials, including metals and polymers, which can act as conductors and insulators.

Director of the Centre for Additive Manufacturing Professor Richard Hague commented, ’Printing fully functional devices that contain multiple materials in complex, 3D structures is now a reality. This breakthrough has significant potential to be the enabling manufacturing technique for 21st century products and devices that will have the potential to create a significant impact on both the industry and the public.’

Credit: the University of Nottingham. Left: A conductive helix track printed within an isolative polymer which forms the basis of an antenna made up of complex shapes.  Middle: A robotic car printed with electronic circuitry to power up two embedded motors and monitor printed sensors. Right: A microscopic cross-section of a printed structure showing a stack of conductive and insulating materials.

To find out more visit, bit.ly/2hXi1Ps

In other news:

– Michael Bloomberg continue his war on coal

– Concrete is strengthened with irradiated plastic

– Graphene-based inks allow integrated circuits to be formed on fabrics 

How Printable Electronic Inks Are Shaping the Future of Flexible Electronics

InventionShare Publishes Technical White Paper on Circuit Seed’s CiFET Due to Industry Demands for More Detailed Information

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