Meniscus-on-Demand Parallel 3D Nanoprinting

Exploiting a femtoliter liquid meniscus formed on a nanopipet is a powerful approach to spatially control mass transfer or chemical reaction at the nanoscale. However, the insufficient reliability of techniques for the meniscus formation still restricts its practical use. We report on a noncontact, programmable method to produce a femtoliter liquid meniscus that is utilized for parallel three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting. The method based on electrohydrodynamic dispensing enables one to create an ink meniscus at a pipet–substrate gap without physical contact and positional feedback. By guiding the meniscus under rapid evaporation of solvent in air, we successfully fabricate freestanding polymer 3D nanostructures. After a quantitative characterization of the experimental conditions, we show that we can use a multibarrel pipet to achieve parallel fabrication process of clustered nanowires with precise placement. We expect this technique to advance productivity in nanoscale 3D printing

Meniscus-on-Demand Parallel 3D Nanoprinting

Exploiting a femtoliter liquid meniscus formed on a nanopipet is a powerful approach to spatially control mass transfer or chemical reaction at the nanoscale. However, the insufficient reliability of techniques for the meniscus formation still restricts its practical use. We report on a noncontact, programmable method to produce a femtoliter liquid meniscus that is utilized for parallel three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting. The method based on electrohydrodynamic dispensing enables one to create an ink meniscus at a pipet–substrate gap without physical contact and positional feedback. By guiding the meniscus under rapid evaporation of solvent in air, we successfully fabricate freestanding polymer 3D nanostructures. After a quantitative characterization of the experimental conditions, we show that we can use a multibarrel pipet to achieve parallel fabrication process of clustered nanowires with precise placement. We expect this technique to advance productivity in nanoscale 3D printing

Meniscus-on-Demand Parallel 3D Nanoprinting

Exploiting a femtoliter liquid meniscus formed on a nanopipet is a powerful approach to spatially control mass transfer or chemical reaction at the nanoscale. However, the insufficient reliability of techniques for the meniscus formation still restricts its practical use. We report on a noncontact, programmable method to produce a femtoliter liquid meniscus that is utilized for parallel three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting. The method based on electrohydrodynamic dispensing enables one to create an ink meniscus at a pipet–substrate gap without physical contact and positional feedback. By guiding the meniscus under rapid evaporation of solvent in air, we successfully fabricate freestanding polymer 3D nanostructures. After a quantitative characterization of the experimental conditions, we show that we can use a multibarrel pipet to achieve parallel fabrication process of clustered nanowires with precise placement. We expect this technique to advance productivity in nanoscale 3D printing

Meniscus-on-Demand Parallel 3D Nanoprinting

Exploiting a femtoliter liquid meniscus formed on a nanopipet is a powerful approach to spatially control mass transfer or chemical reaction at the nanoscale. However, the insufficient reliability of techniques for the meniscus formation still restricts its practical use. We report on a noncontact, programmable method to produce a femtoliter liquid meniscus that is utilized for parallel three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting. The method based on electrohydrodynamic dispensing enables one to create an ink meniscus at a pipet–substrate gap without physical contact and positional feedback. By guiding the meniscus under rapid evaporation of solvent in air, we successfully fabricate freestanding polymer 3D nanostructures. After a quantitative characterization of the experimental conditions, we show that we can use a multibarrel pipet to achieve parallel fabrication process of clustered nanowires with precise placement. We expect this technique to advance productivity in nanoscale 3D printing

Flexible Strain Sensors Fabricated by Meniscus-Guided Printing of Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites

Printed strain sensors have promising potential as a human–machine interface (HMI) for health-monitoring systems, human-friendly wearable interactive systems, and smart robotics. Herein, flexible strain sensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT)–polymer composites were fabricated by meniscus-guided printing using a CNT ink formulated from multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); the ink was suitable for micropatterning on nonflat (or curved) substrates and even three-dimensional structures. The printed strain sensors exhibit a reproducible response to applied tensile and compressive strains, having gauge factors of 13.07 under tensile strain and 12.87 under compressive strain; they also exhibit high stability during ∼1500 bending cycles. Applied strains induce a contact rearrangement of the MWNTs and a change in the tunneling distance between them, resulting in a change in the resistance (Δ<i>R</i>/<i>R</i>₀) of the sensor. Printed MWNT–PVP sensors were used in gloves for finger movement detection; these can be applied to human motion detection and remote control of robotic equipment. Our results demonstrate that meniscus-guided printing using CNT inks can produce highly flexible, sensitive, and inexpensive HMI devices

Flexible Strain Sensors Fabricated by Meniscus-Guided Printing of Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites

Printed strain sensors have promising potential as a human–machine interface (HMI) for health-monitoring systems, human-friendly wearable interactive systems, and smart robotics. Herein, flexible strain sensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT)–polymer composites were fabricated by meniscus-guided printing using a CNT ink formulated from multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); the ink was suitable for micropatterning on nonflat (or curved) substrates and even three-dimensional structures. The printed strain sensors exhibit a reproducible response to applied tensile and compressive strains, having gauge factors of 13.07 under tensile strain and 12.87 under compressive strain; they also exhibit high stability during ∼1500 bending cycles. Applied strains induce a contact rearrangement of the MWNTs and a change in the tunneling distance between them, resulting in a change in the resistance (Δ<i>R</i>/<i>R</i>₀) of the sensor. Printed MWNT–PVP sensors were used in gloves for finger movement detection; these can be applied to human motion detection and remote control of robotic equipment. Our results demonstrate that meniscus-guided printing using CNT inks can produce highly flexible, sensitive, and inexpensive HMI devices

Flexible Strain Sensors Fabricated by Meniscus-Guided Printing of Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites

Printed strain sensors have promising potential as a human–machine interface (HMI) for health-monitoring systems, human-friendly wearable interactive systems, and smart robotics. Herein, flexible strain sensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT)–polymer composites were fabricated by meniscus-guided printing using a CNT ink formulated from multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); the ink was suitable for micropatterning on nonflat (or curved) substrates and even three-dimensional structures. The printed strain sensors exhibit a reproducible response to applied tensile and compressive strains, having gauge factors of 13.07 under tensile strain and 12.87 under compressive strain; they also exhibit high stability during ∼1500 bending cycles. Applied strains induce a contact rearrangement of the MWNTs and a change in the tunneling distance between them, resulting in a change in the resistance (Δ<i>R</i>/<i>R</i>₀) of the sensor. Printed MWNT–PVP sensors were used in gloves for finger movement detection; these can be applied to human motion detection and remote control of robotic equipment. Our results demonstrate that meniscus-guided printing using CNT inks can produce highly flexible, sensitive, and inexpensive HMI devices

Flexible Strain Sensors Fabricated by Meniscus-Guided Printing of Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites

Printed strain sensors have promising potential as a human–machine interface (HMI) for health-monitoring systems, human-friendly wearable interactive systems, and smart robotics. Herein, flexible strain sensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT)–polymer composites were fabricated by meniscus-guided printing using a CNT ink formulated from multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); the ink was suitable for micropatterning on nonflat (or curved) substrates and even three-dimensional structures. The printed strain sensors exhibit a reproducible response to applied tensile and compressive strains, having gauge factors of 13.07 under tensile strain and 12.87 under compressive strain; they also exhibit high stability during ∼1500 bending cycles. Applied strains induce a contact rearrangement of the MWNTs and a change in the tunneling distance between them, resulting in a change in the resistance (Δ<i>R</i>/<i>R</i>₀) of the sensor. Printed MWNT–PVP sensors were used in gloves for finger movement detection; these can be applied to human motion detection and remote control of robotic equipment. Our results demonstrate that meniscus-guided printing using CNT inks can produce highly flexible, sensitive, and inexpensive HMI devices