High resolution printing of charge
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsJohn Rogers, Jang-Ung Park
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are methods of printing a pattern of charge on a substrate surface, such as by electrohydrodynamic (e-jet) printing. The methods relate to providing a nozzle containing a printable fluid, providing a substrate having a substrate surface and generating from the nozzle an ejected printable fluid containing net charge. The ejected printable fluid containing net charge is directed to the substrate surface, wherein the net charge does not substantially degrade and the net charge retained on the substrate surface. Also provided are functional devices made by any of the disclosed methods.
Claims33
A method of printing a pattern of charge on a substrate surface, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a nozzle containing a printable fluid comprising a net charge suspended in a suspending fluid;
- providing a substrate having a substrate surface;
- generating from the nozzle an ejected printable fluid containing suspending fluid and net charge;
- directing the ejected printable fluid containing net charge to the substrate surface, wherein the net charge does not substantially degrade and the suspending fluid evaporates so that there is minimal transfer of the suspending fluid to the substrate;
- and
- retaining the net charge on the substrate surface, thereby printing a pattern of charge on the substrate surface;
- wherein the printed pattern of charge comprises a plurality of dots of charge that form nanolines having a width less than 100 nm and a length greater than or equal to 1 μM.
A method of processing a substrate surface by charge deposition;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a nozzle containing a printable fluid;
- providing a substrate having a substrate surface;
- generating from the nozzle an ejected printable fluid containing net charge;
- directing the ejected printable fluid containing suspending fluid and net charge to the substrate surface, wherein the net charge does not substantially degrade and substantially all the suspending fluid evaporates prior to physical contact with the substrate surface;
- and
- retaining the net charge on the substrate surface,
- wherein the printed charge influences a physical parameter of the substrate surface underlying the printed charge;
- and the printed pattern of charge comprises a plurality of dots of charge that form nanolines having a width less than 100 nm and a length greater than or equal to 1 μM.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.