A new printing technology for electronic circuits aims to change how we make conformal electronics. Conformal electronics is electronics circuitry that fits onto irregular shapes, which is important for smart robotics and sensing systems. They need to be strong and precise to work well, but traditional methods often lead to circuits that break easily.
Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong University came up with a solution called Template-Constrained Additive (TCA) printing. This method helps circuits handle high heat and stress. TCA printing can place very small details, down to 300 nm, using different materials like P(VDF-TrFE) for flexibility, MWCNTs for strength, and AgNPs for conductivity.
TCA printing mixes adhesive with these materials to make circuits that stick better and stay strong. This means the circuits keep working even in tough conditions.
The researchers can make layered circuits that align perfectly, which you can't do easily with old methods. The study showed they could make sensors for temperature and humidity, and even thin energy storage systems.
Tougher circuits for electronics and robotics
The researchers have described the methods and results of this study in a paper published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering.
TCA printing technology makes strong, high-quality circuits on any surface, note the researchers in the conclusion of the paper. It mixes adhesive with materials to make circuits tougher against heat, bending, and wear. Using templates made by photolithography, TCA prints precise details down to 300 nm and layers materials accurately. It works with many materials, fitting them into any shape on both smooth and rough surfaces. They proved this by making sensors and energy storage on ceramic vases. This could change how we make devices for self-driving cars, robots, and planes.
In a press release issued by Xi'an Jiaotong University, research leader Jinyou Shao says that this technology is a big step for electronics. It makes circuits tougher and more exact, perfect for wearables and robotics. This could affect many areas like self-driving cars, where sensors face tough conditions, or in robotics for better joint and skin electronics. It could also change how we make smart clothes and medical devices, where circuits need to be both durable and precise.