Synergistic Evolution from 2D to 3D Printed Electronics with Versatile Nano-composite Material Systems

在我的第一个Discovery项目的任期内，通过使用有机功能油墨材料的直接卷到卷转移，在平面柔性基板上展示了先进的印刷技术和集成的印刷电子工艺。特别是作为二维印刷电子学的薄膜器件，包括有机场效应晶体管、柔性压力和应变传感器等。2D电子系统可靠、快速，而且具有潜在的成本效益。但这些技术的局限性在于，它们只能在平板基板上沉积导电材料，尽管柔性电路也可以通过稍后对平板基板进行变形来实现。我相信3D打印是我未来五年2D打印研究的自然发展。3D打印直接生产嵌入3D结构材料中的设备。特别是，我将确定多材料3D打印和高分辨率3D打印电子设备的具体研究挑战，在这些设备中，功能纳米材料可能会导致技术或性能的阶段性变化。此外，解决这些挑战将需要2D打印和3D打印技术的结合。

Advanced printing techniques with integrated processes for printed electronics on a flat flexible substrate by using direct roll-to-roll transfer of organic functional ink materials have been demonstrated during the tenure of my first Discovery project. Specially, thin film devices including organic field effect transistors, flexible pressure and strain sensors have been investigated as 2D printed electronics. 2D electronic systems are reliable, fast, and potentially cost-effective. But the limitation of these technologies is that they can deposit conductive materials only on flat substrates, though flexible circuits are also possible by later deforming the flat substrate. I believe that 3D printing is natural progression of my 2D printing research for the next five years. 3D printing directly produces devices embedded within 3D structural materials. Especially, I will identify specific research challenges in multi-materials 3D printing and high-resolution 3D printed electronic devices in which functional nano-materials might lead to a step change in technology or performance. Also, addressing such challenges will necessitate the combination of 2D printing and 3D printing technologies.