3D-printing: from technology to applications.
Flexible Printed Piezoelectric Sensors: A Path Towards Low Cost Sensing
Manufacturing Technologies for Printed Sensors, Devices, and Systems
Printing technologies are aiding and revolutionizing the burgeoning field of flexible/bendable/stretchable sensors and electronics by providing cost-effective routes for processing diverse electronic materials at temperatures that are compatible with plastic and wood-based substrates. Simple patterning techniques and decreased amount of processing steps, reduced materials wastage, and low fabrication costs make printing technologies very attractive for the electronics manufacturing. These features of printed electronics have allowed researchers to explore new avenues for materials processing and to develop sensors and systems on even non-planar and deformable surfaces, which otherwise are difficult to realize with the conventional wafer-based fabrication techniques. In this tutorial, participants will gain an overview of various printed electronics manufacturing technologies (contact and non-contact) and potential applications developed so far. This tutorial will bring together various printing techniques and will provide a detailed discussion by also involving the key electronic and substrate materials, systems, and applications. Potential capabilities and critical limitations of each technology will be highlighted, and possible solutions or alternatives will be discussed. The tutorial will also present some recent examples of high performance printed and flexible devices including transistors, sensors etc.