NASA scientists have developed plasma 3D nano-printing technology

Recently, scientists at NASA developed a new nanomaterial printing process that makes it easier and cheaper to make things such as wearable chemistries, biosensors, data storage, and integrated circuits Device, and it can be printed on a curved surface, such as paper or cloth. Where's the secret? Plasma.

The nozzle sprays nanotubes through the switching of the helium plasma. When the plasma is off, the density of nanotubes is small. The plasma is capable of concentrating the nanotubes on the substrate with high density and good adhesion.

In fact, layer-by-layer printing of nanotube-like nanoparticles on a substrate does not require any fancy hardware - the most commonly used is an inkjet printer, which may be used with your home or office The machines are similar. However, despite their economy and durability, these printers have their own limitations that only liquid inks can be printed on hard materials, knowing that not all materials are easily liquid. But the most serious limitation is that they can only print 2D objects.

Aerosol printing technology can partially solve these problems. This technology allows nanomaterials to be deposited on flexible substrates. However, due to the need to heat it to several hundred degrees after printing to dry the ink, there is still no way to use such materials as paper or cloth.

Today, researchers from the NASA Ames Research Center and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States have developed a new method of 3D printing that addresses this issue. The plasma based printing system does not require a heat treatment stage, in fact, the entire process requires only about 40 degrees Celsius temperature, and does not require the print material must be liquid.

"You can use it to deposit things on paper, plastic, cotton and any fabric," said Mayya Meyyappan of the NASA Ames Research Center. "It's great for flexible substrates."

To showcase their technology, the research team covered a sheet of paper with a layer of carbon nanotubes. To do this, they spray a mixture of carbon nanotubes and helium ions directly onto the paper through a nozzle. Since the plasma can concentrate the particles on the surface of the paper, a solid layer is formed and does not require further processing.

In addition, they also 3D printed two simple chemistry and biosensors using the same technology. By adding a molecule to a mixture of nanotubes and plasmas, they can change the resistance of the nanotubes and respond to certain compounds. Their 3D-printed chemical sensors are used to detect ammonia; and biosensors are specialized dopamine-related neurotransmitters that are linked to diseases such as Parkinson's or epilepsy.

It is understood that this 3D printing method is very flexible, it can easily be extended - just add more nozzles can be. For example, a sprinkler system can print large surfaces at once. Or it can be designed like a hose to spray nanomaterials on a three-dimensional surface.

"This technology can not do inkjet printing," said Meyyappan. "And it can be done with anything that inkjet can do, so it's quite competitive."

Meyyappan said that this approach can be easily commercial applications, with only a relatively simple and cheap development can be. The team is currently adjusting their technology to enable it to support other printed materials, such as copper. The technology also enables the battery material to be printed on a thin metal (such as aluminum) board, which is then rolled up to create a very small, but very powerful battery for use on a cell phone or other device .

The research results have been published in "Applied Physics Letters" magazine, entitled "Plasma jet printing for flexible substrates".

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