Surface and Interface Controlled Zero-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Advanced Printed Electronics

Inkjet printing of nanomaterials has been demonstrated to fabricate advanced electronic devices such as flexible and wearable electronics, optoelectronics and sensors by allowing the creation of customized device geometry. In particular, zero-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials, most commonly nanoparticles, have shown great potential for printed electronics since they provide unprecedented and desirable material properties due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio and quantum confinement properties.<br/>Here we demonstrate the successful integration of 0D nanomaterials, such as novel metal nanoparticles (silver and gold) and silicon carbide nanoparticles, into Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes to produce flexible electronics with sensing capabilities. The surface and interface engineering of nanoparticles yields not only a dispersion compatible with various types of AM techniques but also tailorable functional properties. We demonstrate high electrical performance stability of inkjet-printed flexible gold electrodes in response to mechanical bending deformation by using gold nanoparticle functionalized with cohesion enhancer. Complex three-dimensional nanocomposite structures have been fabricated using two photon polymerization by modulating the interaction between the surface of plasmonic nanoparticles and the functional groups of polymers for optoelectronics application. Our advanced compositional (XPS and Orbi-SIMS) and morphological analysis (FIB-SEM and TEM) provides an insight into the effect of tailored surface and interface of nanoparticles on 3D printed structures and device performance.