Micro-to-Macro 3D Printing of Conductive Composites for Sensing and Soft Robotics

The field of printed electronics has witnessed remarkable advancements, propelled by the development of functional materials. Conductive composites play a vital role in achieving stretchability and flexibility, allowing electronic components to conform to curved or irregular surfaces from micron to mm scale. 3D printing is an emerging strategy to structure soft and composite materials into complex geometries with hollow spaces and fractal-like internal supports able to emulate natural tissue-like architectures with reduced weight and increased pressure and strain sensitivities. Further, two-photon polymerization (2PP) process for high-resolution 3D printing presents an opportunity to design micro-scale structures with a high surface-to-volume ratio for highly responsive devices. Yet, achieving intricate additively manufactured 3D structures and multilayered architectures for human machine interfaces and soft robotics requires addressing challenges related to ink formulation, manufacturing standardization, print reproducibility, biocompatibility, cost, and the electromechanical performance of 3D structured sensors. This talk encapsulates the pivotal role of conductive composite materials in pushing the boundaries of electronic design and tactile sensing paving the way for innovative applications in wearable technology, healthcare, and beyond.