New Paradigms on Materials Synthesis and Additive Manufacturing of Flexible Electronics for Energy Applications

摘要

Innovations in materials and manufacturing are important enablers of new technologies across multiple engineering fields. Here, we discuss our recent advances in the development of robotic printers for continuous-flow direct writing, an additive manufacturing printing technique; and the synthesis and processing of different conductive and semiconducting material-inks for this method. Also, we address the development and 3D printing of highly mesoporous foam structures and controlling their morphology. Moreover, special considerations for the development of environmentally-friendly inks are discussed, for enhancing the sustainability of manufacturing and reducing the use of harmful solvents. It is believed that novel patterning of functional optoelectronic nanomaterials using continuous-flow direct writing may hold the key for the next generation of low-cost, large-area, flexible optoelectronic devices for energy applications.