Electronics can now be written on paper with help of a simple pen

Printed Electronics - the latest technology in the field of electronics is poised to become a multibillion dollar business in times to come. This technology includes electronics like batteries and heaters and has the potential to impact business activities across various sectors like publishing, packaged goods, healthcare and aviation.

Write electronics on paper with a pen

A unique silver nanoparticle ink is among the technologies that enable printed electronics. This ink, earlier used for printing 3D small antennas, prints in one direction and allows silver microelectrodes to be patterned. The UI team has demonstrated that a pen on paper approach is the most cost effective option when it comes to printing electronic and optoelectronic devices. This discovery has enabled personal fabrication.

Researchers working towards development of pioneering techniques in printed electronic components have realized the importance of paper as a resource and started focusing their energies on it. After all, paper is inexpensive, easily available, portable and environment friendly. The first thing children learn at school is how to put pen to paper. This is what researchers aim to do – combine the most basic element with modern electronics.

The technique for fabrication of electronic art, flexible displays, radio frequency antennas and conductive text was explained by the team in the online edition of Advanced materials dated 20 June, 2011. Printed features have the capacity to retain their high conductivity even when put through constant bending and folding. The team consisted of the Hans Thurnauer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Jennifer Lewis and Professor Jennifer Bernhard from UI’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Normally bulk silver exhibits higher conductivity than inks created for pen on paper printing purposes but the method used allows rough substrates like paper to be conformally patterned with conductive features in ambient conditions,” elaborates Lewis.

Cost effectiveness is the most important benefit here since typical printers and printheads are replaced with hand held writing tools. One can construct electronic devices on the move with the help of pen based printing. The best instruments which can be used to dispense conductive inks are roller ball pens since they are already compatible with gels and liquids. The silver ink is indispensable to the pen on paper approach. This ink should be conductive upon printing under ambient conditions and must flow freely through the tip of the rollerball pen without leaking, drying out or coagulating within the pen. All the above requirements are met by the nanaosilver ink developed by the UI team.

Via: Nanowerk