Atomic-to-nanoscale matter emission / flow regulation device

A method for printing metal structures on a printable substrate, the method comprising:

• providing a first nanodroplet printer comprising at least a first nanodroplet column system comprising an upper portion of a first reservoir, a first electrostatic lens (e-lens), a first nozzle having a first nozzle width equal to a distance between innermost edges of side walls of the first nozzle, and a first layer of insulation material disposed in between the first e-lens and the first nozzle, the first nozzle disposed in between the first e-lens and the upper portion of the first reservoir and having a nanodroplet orifice through which nanodroplets are generated from matter held in the first reservoir, the nanodroplet orifice being separated from a first e-lens-to-filament base gap extending between the first e-lens and the nanodroplet orifice, the first reservoir having matter therein to be extracted, the first nozzle having an inlet side disposed in the upper portion of the first reservoir and an exit side disposed in the first e-lens-to-filament base gap, the exit side of the first nozzle having side walls that extend away from a common central axis of the first nozzle and the first e-lens, centers of the first nozzle and the first e-lens being precisely aligned along the common central axis such that there is substantially zero misalignment between the centers of the first nozzle and the first e-lens, the first e-lens including at least a first set of at least first and second electrodes that are laterally separated from one another by a first lateral gap having a first gap width, wherein the printable substrate is mounted on a front side of the first nanodroplet printer in alignment with the first nanodroplet printer;
• and
• applying a first set of voltage signals to the first set of at least first and second electrodes to cause a nanodroplet to be generated and extracted through the nanodroplet orifice of the first nozzle, the extracted nanodroplet self-aligning to the e-lens due to the first nozzle and the first e-lens being precisely aligned along the common central axis, the e-lens directing the extracted nanodroplet onto the printable substrate to thereby write a structure on the printable substrate.