Technical Summary

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies such as 3D printing and 2D printing using inkjet and aerosol are setting a new trend in Flexible electronics fabrication. The inkjet printing, considered a method for multiple-material printing, helps to print homogeneous electronic structures on a flat surface. Inkjet printing performance is characterised by ink flow inside the printhead, jet formation, and droplet interaction with the substrate material. This technology is gaining popularity due to its materials compatibility, non-contact printing, resolution, and acceptance of digital input. The quality of the feedstock ink is critical in achieving high-quality printed structures. Conventional chemical methods for producing nanoparticle inks rely on hazardous chemicals with negative environmental impact. In this research, novel inks will be produced through Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL), which is a more environmentally friendly process and will be examined via a detailed set of experiments.  In-line monitoring of the ink parameters (nano-particle size and concentration) will be implemented using autonomous machine learning and control to enhance production rates and quality. These promising, alternative inks will be produced and used to print the battery elements, which will be an alternative to the existing MXene, copper, and carbon-based inks.  After printing, a sintering process is required to remove the oxides present at the substrate surface and between the conjoining of the metallic particles. This improves the printed track’s electrical performance (conductivity) and microstructure. In recent years, the applications of printed technology have extended to various research fields, including optoelectronics, photonics, sensors, and energy storage, with significant advances realised.