Additive manufacturing of 2D nanomaterials

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As the Internet of Things (IoT) expands, our world is increasingly being connected by sensors, which can monitor vital systems such as heating and ventilation (HVAC), industrial equipment, patient health during daily activity, and the changing environment. The market for IoT sensors is expected to reach $29.6 billion by 2026 (source: Markets and Markets), while within the biomedical field, the global demand for wearable sensors is expected to increase to $2.86 billion by 2025 (Grand Review Research). A variety of Alberta-based companies are currently working in this sphere, including FredSense, Phase Sensors, Industrial Scientific, and Cardi AI. A common challenge is that new technologies are required for the engineering and manufacturing of inexpensive, portable, and lightweight sensors.One emerging approach to manufacturing sensors and other electronic devices is through additive manufacturing of functional inks. To enable these devices, materials with a variety of functionalities are required (conductors, dielectrics, insulators, as well as stimuli-responsive materials that undergo a change in property in response to a desired stimulus). There are currently a limited number of commercial conductive inks on the market, ranging from silver nanoparticle inks for 2D (inkjet) printing to carbon-polymer composite filaments for 3D printing (fused deposition modeling, which heats the solid filament to soften it before printing). Materials with other properties, including dielectric and piezoelectric inks, are also required. 2D nanomaterials have the potential to fulfil many of these functions, and due to their small dimensions, can be used in printable inks. The purpose of this work is to synthesize 2D nanomaterial-based inks and utilize additive manufacturing via direct ink writing to manufacture electronic devices, including those that can sense physical stimuli. Outcomes: (1) new, patentable formulations of functional inks, and (2) printed devices that can be customized to meet the needs of local companies.