Materials Printing Using Electrospray

In an electrospray, large electric potentials are used to generate a spray of highly charged droplets. Colloidal dispersions, consisting of nanoparticles in a volatile solvent, can be atomized using electrospray. Printing occurs by directing the emitted droplets towards a target substrate. The solvent evaporation is rapid and dry nanoparticles are produced before reaching the surface. Electrospray imparts an excess electric charge on to the emitted particles. The mutual coulombic interaction between the particles governs their transport and ultimately the microstructure of the printed deposit. In this study, we investigate the structure of nanoparticle ink deposits printed using electrospray. Electrospray offers enhanced control over the microstructure of printed nanomaterial deposits compared to traditional printing techniques. This has significant implications for the manufacturing of flexible electronic and photonic devices.