Inkjet Printing

Introduction

Drop-on-demand inkjet-printing (DOD IJP) is a versatile digital printing technique that allows for direct patterning of a wide range of functional materials such as polymers, polymer composites, as well as different types of nanomaterials. In this technique, pico-liter droplets are generated and precisely positioned on substrates. The possibility of positioning a small volume of material precisely on the substrate as well as contactless patterning has made DOD IJP an interesting technique in the fields such as fabricating optical components (e.g. microlens arrays), electronic devices (e.g. thin film transistors), sensors (e.g. chemical sensors), as well as tissue engineering (i.e. cell patterning).

Working principle and some examples

In LMIS1 we are using a piezo-actuated drop-on-demand inkjet printer developed by Microfab Technology. In this printer, the dispenser consists of an annular piezoelectric element, which is attached to a capillary glass tube. When a pulsed voltage waveform is applied to the piezo-element a sudden change of volume occurs in the capillary glass that generates acoustic pressure waves inside the capillary tube and consequently expels a small volume of liquid from the orifice. For droplets to be generated physical properties of the ink e.g. viscosity and surface tension, have to be carefully tuned and printing parameters (e.g. applied waveform) have to be optimized. The image below shows how a droplet is generated from an ink containing a polymer, using a piezo-actuated nozzle.

Figure 1: Generation of pico-liter droplets using a piezo-actuated DOD IJP.

Liquid encapsulation in microdevices

Current technology allows us to create amazingly small physical devices. However, the precise deposition and protection of pL volumes of liquid need to be improved as a consequence. The time-window to encapsulate picolitres of water-based ink is less than a minute before significant evaporation takes place. The loss of liquid can disturb the concentrations contained within the ink for correct function. We use DOD IJP to print our desired ink into defined open vessels. We immediately print an oil-based UV-curable encapsulating layer. Thereafter upon UV curing, crosslinking occurs and forms a barrier to protect the underlying ink from evaporation and external influence.

Figure 2: PDMS samples with wells of 300µm internal lengths are filled with a water-based ink. Before complete evaporation takes place, an immiscible ink is deposited on top to encapsulate the ink underneath before UV treatment.

Printing polymer composites for gas sensing applications

One of the ongoing research activities in our lab regarding IJP is to formulate inks containing polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) for applications in chemical gas sensing using sensor arrays (i.e. electronic nose devices). Since IJP enables us to directly deposit functional materials on a substrate it is a suitable technique for fabricating sensor arrays where each sensor consists of a different material. For this aim we formulate inks containing PNCs, study their printability and investigate their response to different volatile organic compounds (e.g. acetone, and ethanol).

Figure 3: The image (a) shows an exploded view of the sensor device used for characterization of inkjet-printed polymer composites. The image (b) demonstrate working principle of chemiresistive sensors based on polymer composites. The image (c) shows a representative result indicating the response of a printed polystyrene/carbon black composite to acetone. The inset of the image shows a picture of the printed sensor.

Keywords: inkjet, ink-jet, microlense, microdrop

Journal papers

  

Near-Room-Temperature Detection of Aromatic Compounds with Inkjet-Printed Plasticized Polymer Composites

M. M. Kiaee; T. Maeder; J. Brugger 

Acs Sensors. 2024. Vol. 9, num. 3, p. 1382 – 1390. DOI : 10.1021/acssensors.3c02406.

Nanoliter Liquid Packaging in a Bioresorbable Microsystem by Additive Manufacturing and its Application as a Controlled Drug Delivery Device

J. Park; A. Bertsch; C. Martin Olmos; J. Brugger 

Advanced Functional Materials. 2023. num. 2302385. DOI : 10.1002/adfm.202302385.

Inkjet‐Printed Composites for Room‐Temperature VOC Sensing: From Ink Formulation to Sensor Characterization

M. Kiaee; T. Maeder; J. Brugger 

Advanced Materials Technologies. 2020.  p. 1 – 11, 2000929. DOI : 10.1002/admt.202000929.

Additive micro-manufacturing of crack-free PDCs by two-photon polymerization of a single, low-shrinkage preceramic resin

G. Konstantinou; E. Kakkava; L. Hagelüken; P. V. Warriam Sasikumar; J. Wang et al. 

Additive Manufacturing. 2020.  p. 101343. DOI : 10.1016/j.addma.2020.101343.

A 3D Microscaffold Cochlear Electrode Array for Steroid Elution

J. Jang; J. Kim; Y. C. Kim; S. Kim; N. Chou et al. 

Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2019.  p. 1900379. DOI : 10.1002/adhm.201900379.

Growth of Large-Area 2D MoS2 Arrays at Pre-Defined Locations Using Stencil Mask Lithography

I. Sharma; Y. Batra; V. Flauraud; J. Brugger; B. R. Mehta 

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2018. Vol. 18, num. 3, p. 1824 – 1832. DOI : 10.1166/jnn.2018.14265.

Penciling a triboelectric nanogenerator on paper for autonomous power MEMS applications

X. Zhang; M. Su; J. Brugger; B. Kim 

Nano Energy. 2017. Vol. 33, p. 393 – 401. DOI : 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.01.053.

Organic-inorganic-hybrid-polymer microlens arrays with tailored optical characteristics and multi-focal properties

L. Jacot-Descombes; V. J. Cadarso; A. Schleunitz; S. Gruetzner; J. J. Klein et al. 

Optics Express. 2015. Vol. 23, num. 19, p. 25365 – 25376. DOI : 10.1364/OE.23.025365.

PDMS-based, magnetically actuated variable optical attenuators obtained by soft lithography and inkjet printing technologies

S. De Pedro; V. J. Cadarso; X. Munoz-Berbel; J. A. Plaza; J. Sort et al. 

Sensors And Actuators A-Physical. 2014. Vol. 215, p. 30 – 35. DOI : 10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.021.

Inkjet Printing of High Aspect Ratio Superparamagnetic SU-8 Microstructures with Preferential Magnetic Directions

L. Jacot-Descombes; M. R. Gullo; V. J. Cadarso; M. Mastrangeli; O. Ergeneman et al. 

Micromachines. 2014. Vol. 5, p. 583 – 593. DOI : 10.3390/mi5030583.

Polymeric variable optical attenuators based on magnetic sensitive stimuli materials

S. De Pedro; V. J. Cadarso; T. N. Ackermann; X. Munoz-Berbel; J. A. Plaza et al. 

Journal Of Micromechanics And Microengineering. 2014. Vol. 24, num. 12, p. 125008. DOI : 10.1088/0960-1317/24/12/125008.

Fabrication of HepG2 Cell Laden Collagen Microspheres using Inkjet Printing

J. Ho Choi; Y. Ho Kim; L. Jacot-Descombes; J. Brugger; G. Man Kim 

Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering. 2014. Vol. 31, num. 8, p. 743 – 747. DOI : 10.7736/KSPE.2014.31.8.743.

Microdrop generation and deposition of ionic liquids

V. J. Cadarso; J. Perera-Nunez; A. Mendez-Vilas; L. Labajos-Broncano; M-L. Gonzalez-Martin et al. 

Journal Of Materials Research. 2014. Vol. 29, num. 17, p. 2100 – 2107. DOI : 10.1557/jmr.2014.162.

Inkjet printed superparamagnetic polymer composite hemispheres with programmed magnetic anisotropy

O. Ergeneman; C. Peters; M. R. Gullo; L. Jacot-Descombes; S. Gervasoni et al. 

Nanoscale. 2014. Vol. 6, p. 10495 – 10499. DOI : 10.1039/C3NR06442E.

Simple and easily controllable parabolic-shaped microlenses printed on polymeric mesas

J. Y. Kim; C. Martin-Olmos; N. S. Baek; J. Brugger 

Journal Of Materials Chemistry C. 2013. Vol. 1, num. 11, p. 2152 – 2157. DOI : 10.1039/c3tc00632h.

Inkjet-printed SU-8 Hemispherical Microcapsules and Silicon chip Embedding

L. Jacot-Descombes; R. M. Gullo; M. Mastrangeli; V. J. Cadarso; J. Brugger 

IET Micro & Nano Letters. 2013. Vol. 8, num. 10, p. 633 – 636. DOI : 10.1049/mnl.2013.0241.

Microdrop Printing of Hydrogel Bioinks into 3D Tissue-Like Geometries

K. Pataky; T. Braschler; A. Negro; P. Renaud; M. P. Lutolf et al. 

Advanced Materials. 2012. Vol. 24, num. 3, p. 391 – 396. DOI : 10.1002/adma.201102800.

Fabrication of epoxy spherical microstructures by controlled drop-on-demand inkjet printing

L. Jacot-Descombes; R. M. Gullo; C. Busto; V. Javier; J. Brugger 

Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. 2012. Vol. 22, num. 7, p. 074012. DOI : 10.1088/0960-1317/22/7/074012.

Heterogeneous material micro-transfer by ink-jet print assisted mould filling

J. V. Cadarso; G. Smolik; V. Auzelyte; L. Jacot-Descombes; J. Brugger 

Microelectronic Engineering. 2012. Vol. 98, p. 619 – 622. DOI : 10.1016/j.mee.2012.04.025.

Directly fabricated multi-scale microlens arrays on a hydrophobic flat surface by a simple ink-jet printing technique

J. Y. Kim; K. Pfeiffer; A. Voigt; G. Gruetzner; J. Brugger 

Journal of Materials Chemistry. 2012. Vol. 22, num. 7, p. 3053 – 3058. DOI : 10.1039/c2jm15576a.

Nanocomposites based on highly luminescent nanocrystals and semiconducting conjugated polymer for inkjet printing

E. Binetti; C. Ingrosso; M. Striccoli; P. Cosma; A. Agostiano et al. 

Nanotechnology. 2012. Vol. 23, num. 7, p. 075701. DOI : 10.1088/0957-4484/23/7/075701.

Oxide nanocrystal based nanocomposites for fabricating photoplastic AFM probes

C. Ingrosso; C. Martin-Olmos; A. Llobera; C. Innocenti; C. Sangregorio et al. 

Nanoscale. 2011. Vol. 3, p. 4632 – 4639. DOI : 10.1039/c1nr10487j.

Hybrid polymer microlens arrays with high numerical apertures fabricated using simple ink-jet printing technique

J. Y. Kim; N. B. Brauer; V. Fakhfouri; D. Boiko; E. Charbon et al. 

Optical Materials Express. 2011. Vol. 1, num. 2, p. 259 – 269. DOI : 10.1364/OME.1.000259.

Microlenses with defined contour shapes

V. J. Cadarso Busto; J. Perera-Núñez; L. Jacot-Descombes; K. Pfeiffer; U. Ostrzinski et al. 

Optics Express. 2011. Vol. 19, num. 19, p. 18665. DOI : 10.1364/OE.19.018665.

Mechanically tuneable microoptical structure based on PDMS

V. J. Cadarso; A. Llobera; G. Villanueva; J. A. Plaza; J. Brugger et al. 

Sensors and Actuators a-Physical. 2010. Vol. 162, num. 2, p. 260 – 266. DOI : 10.1016/j.sna.2010.02.025.

Drop-on-demand inkjet printing of highly luminescent CdS and CdSe@ZnS nanocrystal based nanocomposites

C. Ingrosso; J. Y. Kim; E. Binetti; V. Fakhfouri; M. Striccoli et al. 

Microelectronic Engineering. 2009. Vol. 86, p. 1124 – 1126. DOI : 10.1016/j.mee.2008.11.028.

Inkjet-Printed Multicolor Arrays of Highly Luminescent Nanocrystal-Based Nanocomposites

J. Y. Kim; C. Ingrosso; V. Fakhfouri; M. Striccoli; A. Agostiano et al. 

Small. 2009. Vol. 5, p. 1051 – 1057. DOI : 10.1002/smll.200801315.

Drop-On-Demand Inkjet Printing of SU-8 Polymer

V. Fakhfouri; G. Mermoud; J. Y. Kim; A. Martinoli; J. Brugger 

Micro and Nanosystems. 2009. Vol. 1, num. 1, p. 63 – 67. DOI : 10.2174/1876402910901010063.

Novel methods to pattern polymers for microfluidics

C. Martin; A. Llobera; T. Leïchlé; G. Villanueva; A. Voigt et al. 

Microelectronic Engineering. 2008. Vol. 85, p. 972 – 975. DOI : 10.1016/j.mee.2008.01.052.

Uniformly Dispersed Deposition of Colloidal Nanoparticles and Nanowires by Boiling

K. Lee; M. Duchamp; G. Kulik; A. Magrez; J. W. Seo et al. 

Applied Physics Letters. 2007. Vol. 91, num. 17, p. 173112. DOI : 10.1063/1.2803320.

NMR spectroscopy and perfusion of mammalian cells using surface microprobes

K. Ehrmann; K. Pataky; M. Stettler; F. M. Wurm; J. Brugger et al. 

Lab on a Chip. 2007. Vol. 7, num. 3, p. 381 – 383. DOI : 10.1039/B613240E.

MEMS tools for combinatorial materials processing and high-throughput characterization

A. Ludwig; J. Cao; J. Brugger; I. Takeuchi 

Measurement Science and Technology. 2005. Vol. 16, num. 1, p. 111 – 118. DOI : 10.1088/0957-0233/16/1/015.

Conference papers

  

LIQUID-IN-A-MEMS: ENCAPSULATION OF LIQUID IN A MICROCAPSULE BY INKJET PRINTING

J. Park; A. Bertsch; J. Brugger 

2023. 22nd International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, Kyoto, Japan, 2023-06-25 – 2023-06-29.

Printed Polymer Composite Sensors for Low-Power, Near Room-Temperature Detection and Classification of VOCS

M. Mahdi Kiaee; T. Maeder; J. Brugger 

2021. 34th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS 2021), Gainesville, FL, USA (virtual event), January 25-29, 2021. p. 274 – 277. DOI : 10.1109/MEMS51782.2021.9375208.

3D Printed Micro-Scaffolds Loaded by Inkjet Printing With in-Precise Amount of Drug

F. Zheng; J. Jang; C. Tse; J. Brugger 

2020. IEEE 15th International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular System (NEMS), ELECTR NETWORK, Sep 27-30, 2020. p. 426 – 429. DOI : 10.1109/NEMS50311.2020.9265525.

Film Morphology Effect on VOC Sensor Performance Fabricated by Drop-On-Demand Inkjet-Printing

M. M. Kiaee; T. Maeder; J. Brugger 

2019. 20th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems and Eurosensors XXXIII (TRANSDUCERS and EUROSENSORS), Berlin, Germany, Jun 23-27, 2019. p. 1361 – 1364. DOI : 10.1109/TRANSDUCERS.2019.8808652.

Self-assembly of micro/nanosystems across scales and interfaces

M. Mastrangeli 

2017. 19th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (TRANSDUCERS 2017), Kaohsiung, Taiwan, June 18-22, 2017. p. 676 – 681. DOI : 10.1109/TRANSDUCERS.2017.7994139.

Liquid-Filled Sealed Mems Capsules Fabricated By Fluidic Self-Assembly

M. Mastrangeli; L. Jacot-Descombes; M. R. Gullo; J. Brugger 

2014. IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS 2014), San Francisco (USA), January 26-30, 2014. p. 56 – 59. DOI : 10.1109/MEMSYS.2014.6765572.

Automated Real-Time Control of Fluidic Self-Assembly of Microparticles

M. Mastrangeli; F. S. Schill; J. Goldowsky; H. Knapp; J. Brugger et al. 

2014. 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2014), Hong Kong (China), May 31 – June 7, 2014. p. 5860 – 5865. DOI : 10.1109/ICRA.2014.6907721.

Polymeric hemispherical pico-liter micro cups fabricated by inkjet printing

L. Jacot-Descombes; M. R. Gullo; V. J. Cadarso; M. Mastrangeli; J. Brugger 

2013. 2013 8th IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems (NEMS), Suzhou, China, 7-10 04 2013. p. 1119 – 1122. DOI : 10.1109/NEMS.2013.6559918.

New inks for the direct drop-on-demand fabrication of polymer lenses

A. Voigt; U. Ostrzinski; K. Pfeiffer; J. Y. Kim; V. Fakhfouri et al. 

2011. 36th International Conference on Micro & Nano Engineering (MNE), Genoa, Italy, September 19-22, 2010. p. 2174 – 2179. DOI : 10.1016/j.mee.2010.12.004.

Fabrication of polymeric micro structures by controlled drop on demand inkjet printing

L. Jacot-Descombes; R. M. Gullo; V. J. Cadarso Busto; J. Brugger 

2011. 22nd Micromechanics and Micro systems Europe Workshop, Toensberg, Norway, June 19-22, 2011. p. 97 – 100.

Direct Fabrication of Polymer Micro lens Arrays having Tunable Optical Properties using Drop-On-Demand Ink-Jet Printing Technology

J. Y. Kim; V. Fakhfouri; K. Pfeiffer; A. Voigt; M. Fink et al. 

2009. 25th International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, Louisville, KY, Sep 20-24, 2009. p. 803 – 805.

Nanostencil and InkJet Printing for Bionanotechnology Applications

K. Pataky; O. Vazquez-Mena; J. Brugger 

2009. Nano-Net 2009, 4th International ICST Conference on Nano-Networks, Luzern, Switzerland, October 18-20, 2009..

High-Fidelity Printing Strategies for Printing 3D Vascular Hydrogel Structures

K. Pataky; M. Ackermann; T. Braschler; M. Lutolf; P. Renaud et al. 

2009. 25th International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies, Louisville, KY, Sep 20-24, 2009. p. 411 – 414.

Drop-on-demand Ink-jet printing of functional materials: Case studies of SU-8 and NCs-embedded Polymer nanocomposites

J. Y. KIM; V. Fakhfouri; C. Ingrosso; M. Striccoli; M. L. Curri et al. 

2008. International Conference on Digital Fabrication Technologies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, September 7-12, 2008..

Novel methods to pattern polymers for microfluidics

C. Martin; A. Llobera; T. Leïchlé; G. Villanueva; A. Voigt et al. 

2008. 33rd International Conference on Micro- and Nano Engineering 2007 (MNE 2007), Copenhagen, Denmark, 23-26 Sept, 2007. p. 972 – 975. DOI : 10.1016/j.mee.2008.01.052.

Inkjet printing of SU-8 for polymer-based MEMS a case study for microlenses

V. Fakhfouri; N. Cantale; G. Mermoud; J. Y. Kim; D. Boiko et al. 

2008. 21st IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems 2008, Tucson, Arizona, USA, Jan 13-17, 2008. p. 407 – 410. DOI : 10.1109/MEMSYS.2008.4443679.