Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics

Abstract Conformal electronic devices on freeform surface play a critical role in the emerging smart robotics, smart skins, and integrated sensing systems. However, their functional structures such as circuits tend to tear-off, break, or crack under mechanical or thermal influence when in service, t...

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Main Authors: Guifang Liu, Xiangming Li, Yangfan Qiu, Chuanhang Zeng, Xinkai Zhu, Chao Wang, Xiaoliang Chen, Chunhui Wang, Hongmiao Tian, Jinyou Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:Microsystems & Nanoengineering
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00840-z
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author Guifang Liu
Xiangming Li
Yangfan Qiu
Chuanhang Zeng
Xinkai Zhu
Chao Wang
Xiaoliang Chen
Chunhui Wang
Hongmiao Tian
Jinyou Shao
author_facet Guifang Liu
Xiangming Li
Yangfan Qiu
Chuanhang Zeng
Xinkai Zhu
Chao Wang
Xiaoliang Chen
Chunhui Wang
Hongmiao Tian
Jinyou Shao
author_sort Guifang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Conformal electronic devices on freeform surface play a critical role in the emerging smart robotics, smart skins, and integrated sensing systems. However, their functional structures such as circuits tend to tear-off, break, or crack under mechanical or thermal influence when in service, thus limiting the application reliability of conformal electronics. Herein, inspired by the tree root system, template-confined additive (TCA) printing technology was presented for reliable fabrication of robust circuits. TCA printing technology involves the penetration of adhesive into the functional material, thereby enhancing the mechanical robustness of the circuits, allowing them to maintain their electrical performance despite the presence of external damaging factors such as scratching, abrasion, folding, and high temperatures. For example, herein, the circuits could withstand mechanical abrasion at temperatures as high as 350 °C without compromising electrical properties. Benefiting from the confines of template, the printed circuits achieved resolutions of up to 300 nm, suitable for various materials such as P(VDF-TrFE), MWCNTs, and AgNPs, which enabled the multi-material self-aligned fabrication. Furthermore, the versatility of TCA printing was presented by fabricating circuits on arbitrary substrates, and realizing various devices, such as conformal temperature/humidity sensing system and epidermal ultra-thin energy storage system. These applications present the significant potential of TCA printing in fabricating intelligent devices.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2055-7434
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-962b628aadb04d8da0ca4678d97804592024-12-15T12:09:38ZengNature Publishing GroupMicrosystems & Nanoengineering2055-74342024-12-0110111610.1038/s41378-024-00840-zRoot-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronicsGuifang Liu0Xiangming Li1Yangfan Qiu2Chuanhang Zeng3Xinkai Zhu4Chao Wang5Xiaoliang Chen6Chunhui Wang7Hongmiao Tian8Jinyou Shao9Micro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityMicro- and Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityAbstract Conformal electronic devices on freeform surface play a critical role in the emerging smart robotics, smart skins, and integrated sensing systems. However, their functional structures such as circuits tend to tear-off, break, or crack under mechanical or thermal influence when in service, thus limiting the application reliability of conformal electronics. Herein, inspired by the tree root system, template-confined additive (TCA) printing technology was presented for reliable fabrication of robust circuits. TCA printing technology involves the penetration of adhesive into the functional material, thereby enhancing the mechanical robustness of the circuits, allowing them to maintain their electrical performance despite the presence of external damaging factors such as scratching, abrasion, folding, and high temperatures. For example, herein, the circuits could withstand mechanical abrasion at temperatures as high as 350 °C without compromising electrical properties. Benefiting from the confines of template, the printed circuits achieved resolutions of up to 300 nm, suitable for various materials such as P(VDF-TrFE), MWCNTs, and AgNPs, which enabled the multi-material self-aligned fabrication. Furthermore, the versatility of TCA printing was presented by fabricating circuits on arbitrary substrates, and realizing various devices, such as conformal temperature/humidity sensing system and epidermal ultra-thin energy storage system. These applications present the significant potential of TCA printing in fabricating intelligent devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00840-z
spellingShingle Guifang Liu
Xiangming Li
Yangfan Qiu
Chuanhang Zeng
Xinkai Zhu
Chao Wang
Xiaoliang Chen
Chunhui Wang
Hongmiao Tian
Jinyou Shao
Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
Microsystems & Nanoengineering
title Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
title_full Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
title_fullStr Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
title_full_unstemmed Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
title_short Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics
title_sort root inspired template confined additive printing for fabricating high robust conformal electronics
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00840-z
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