Davide Deganello

Ultrafast near-infrared sintering of a slot-die coated nano-silver conducting ink

Drying and sintering conductive inks for plastic electronics currently limits the rate of their roll-to-roll manufacture. Near infrared radiation is demonstrated to drastically reduce this process time, achieving conduction under 0.03 Ω per □ in 2 seconds compared to conventional hot-air oven (600 seconds) and infrared methods (84 seconds).

Flexographic printing of graphene nanoplatelet ink to replace platinum as counter electrode catalyst in flexible dye sensitised solar cell

Abstract A semitransparent catalytically active graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) ink was developed suitable for roll to roll printing onto a flexible indium tin oxide substrate at a speed of 0·4 m s−1. Dye sensitised solar cells using this ink as a catalyst demonstrated efficiencies of 2·0%, compared with 2·6% for sputtered platinum. Given further optimisation, GNP inks have the potential to replace chemically reduced or sputtered platinum. This would have the benefit of replacing the chemical reduction or sputtering operations as well as providing potential material cost benefits.

Short-Term Intra-Subject Variation in Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in COPD Patients and Healthy Controls and Its Effect on Disease Classification

Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of interest for their potential to diagnose disease non-invasively. However, most breath VOC studies have analyzed single breath samples from an individual and assumed them to be wholly consistent representative of the person. This provided the motivation for an investigation of the variability of breath profiles when three breath samples are taken over a short time period (two minute intervals between samples) for 118 stable patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and 63 healthy controls and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The extent of the variation in VOC levels differed between COPD and healthy subjects and the patterns of variation differed for isoprene versus the bulk of other VOCs. In addition, machine learning approaches were applied to the breath data to establish whether these samples differed in their ability to discriminate COPD from healthy states and whether aggregation of multiple samples, into single data sets, could offer improved discrimination. The three breath samples gave similar classification accuracy to one another when evaluated separately (66.5% to 68.3% subjects classified correctly depending on the breath repetition used). Combining multiple breath samples into single data sets gave better discrimination (73.4% subjects classified correctly). Although accuracy is not sufficient for COPD diagnosis in a clinical setting, enhanced sampling and analysis may improve accuracy further. Variability in samples, and short-term effects of practice or exertion, need to be considered in any breath testing program to improve reliability and optimize discrimination.

Flexographic printing of ultra-thin semiconductor polymer layers

Methods of fabricating and controlling organic light emitting diode (OLED) or photovoltaic layers effectively are paramount for achieving a functional and durable device. The deposited film needs to be uniform and homogeneous to avoid non-uniform luminescence in the OLED. Although methods of depositing the ultra-thin sub 100 nm layers within OLED are effective, they are relatively slow and expensive. This paper therefore demonstrates flexography as an alternative method for depositing the semiconductor layer for OLED onto glass substrate. In this case a proprietary semiconducting polyflourine dispersed in xylene was used. This material functions as the hole injecting layer. The low polymer concentration and requirement for aromatic solvent presented challenges for the process; conventional photopolymer printing plates degraded rapidly on contact with xylene and rubber printing plates were found to be sufficiently resilient. Through optimisation of printing parameters and surface modification of both the printing plate and substrate with UV/ozone exposure, a consistent sub-100 nm film was achieved. Flexographic printing will enable a substantial reduction in layer fabrication time, as well as allowing roll to roll mass production at lower cost. The research indicated within this paper will aid the progression of flexography as a viable cost effective method for OLED or display technology application through continuous printing of ultra-thin layers.

High performance tunable piezoresistive pressure sensor based on direct contact between printed graphene nanoplatelet composite layers

This article details the development of a thin film piezoresistive screen printed pressure sensor on a flexible substrate using a composite ink based on functionalised graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The sensor operates through direct interfacial contact between two distinct films of the composite ink deposited over conductive substrates, without requiring any intermediate gap through spacers. The sensors showed consistent results and sensitivity forces ranging between 10 N to 2000 N. The piezoresistive range of the sensor can be tuned with the number of layers deposited per side.

UV photodecomposition of zinc acetate for the growth of ZnO nanowires

The thermal annealing of zinc precursors to form suitable seed layers for the growth of ZnO nanowires is common. However, the process is relatively long and involves high temperatures which limit substrate choice. In this study the use of a low temperature, ultra-violet (UV) exposure is demonstrated for photodecomposition of zinc acetate precursors to form suitable seed layers. Comparisons are made between ZnO nanowire growth performed on seed layers produced through thermal annealing and exposure to UV. The dependence of growth density and nanowire diameter on UV exposure time is investigated. Growth quality is confirmed with energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and x-ray diffraction analyses. The chemical composition of the exposed layers is investigated with EDX and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is utilized to investigate morphological changes with respect to UV exposure. The diameter and density of the resultant growth was found to be strongly dependent on the UV exposure time. UV exposure times of only 25-30 s led to maximum density of growth and minimum diameter, significantly faster than thermal annealing. EDX, XPS and AFM analyses of the seed layers confirmed decomposition of the zinc precursor and morphological changes which influenced the growth.

Printing techniques for the fabrication of OLEDs

Abstract: Printed electronics offer a great opportunity for the development of large-area organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with the potential for low-cost high-volume fabrication. This chapter provides a detailed overview of all the major printing and coating technologies. The capabilities and current limitations of each approach are discussed, underlining their current status of development for the manufacture of OLEDs. Discussed technologies include rotogravure, flexography, inkjet, screen, offset lithography printing as well as reverse gravure coating and slot-die coating methods.

Transient Extensional Rheology of an Aqueous Gelatin Solution: Before and During Gelation

A technique for studying the extensional rheology of gelling systems is presented. The technique is based on capillary thinning extensional rheometry, and has been used to investigate the extensional rheology of an aqueous gelatin solution before and during gelation. We discuss the qualitative differences between the response prior to and soon after the gel point. In particular, we discuss the effect of gelation on the strain‐ and rate‐dependent extensional response. We also discuss some of the methods and techniques to overcome some of the arising obstacles and limitations.

Formulation, characterisation and flexographic printing of novel Boger fluids to assess the effects of ink elasticity on print uniformity

Model elastic inks were formulated, rheologically characterised in shear and extension, and printed via flexography to assess the impact of ink elasticity on print uniformity. Flexography is a roll-to-roll printing process with great potential in the mass production of printed electronics for which understanding layer uniformity and the influence of rheology is of critical importance. A new set of flexo-printable Boger fluids was formulated by blending polyvinyl alcohol and high molecular weight polyacrylamide to provide inks of varying elasticity. During print trials, the phenomenon of viscous fingering was observed in all prints, with those of the Newtonian ink exhibiting a continuous striping in the printing direction. Increasing elasticity significantly influenced this continuity, disrupting it and leading to a quantifiable decrease in the overall relative size of the printed finger features. As such, ink elasticity was seen to have a profound effect on flexographic printing uniformity, showing the rheological tuning of inks may be a route to obtaining specific printed features.

Spray-Coating Thin Films on Three-Dimensional Surfaces for a Semitransparent Capacitive-Touch Device

Here, we formulate low surface tension (∼30 mN/m) and low boiling point (∼79 °C) inks of graphene, single-wall carbon nanotubes and conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and demonstrate their viability for spray-coating of morphologically uniform (Sq ≈ 48 ± 3 nm), transparent conducting films (TCFs) at room temperature (∼20 °C), which conform to three dimensional curved surfaces. Large area (∼750 cm2) hybrid PEDOT:PSS/graphene films achieved an optical transmission of 67% in the UV and 64% in the near-infrared wavelengths with a conductivity of ∼104 S/m. Finally, we demonstrate the spray-coating of TCFs as an electrode on the inside of a poly(methyl methacrylate) sphere, enabling a semitransparent (around 360°) and spherical touch sensor for interactive devices.