Inkjet Printing of Conductive Inks with High Lateral Resolution on Omniphobic “R F Paper” for Paper-Based Electronics and MEMS (original) (raw)

We describe the use of omniphobic “fluoroalkylated paper” (“R F paper”) as a substrate for inkjet printing of aqueous inks that are the precursors of electrically conductive patterns. By controlling the surface chemistry of the paper, it is possible to print high resolution, conductive patterns that remain conductive after folding and exposure to common solvents. Inkjet printing on omniphobic paper is a promising method of fabrication for low-cost, fl exible, foldable, and disposable conductors on paper (and other fl exible substrates) for electronics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), displays, and other applications. The ability to resist wetting by liquids with a wide range of surface tensions, combined with foldability, mechanical flexibility, light weight, low cost, and gas permeability, makes omniphobic R F paper a versatile alternative to the polymer, glass and silicon based materials upon which printed electronics are currently being deposited.