Description:
This printhead can deposit reactive materials as they are generated in real time
Background
The ability to integrate multifunctional parameters into one material has crosscutting impacts in several applications. For example, one can engineer and modify structural materials that provide high mechanical strength at various length scales to attain additional functionality, such as sensing, actuation, and energy transport. Such materials are critical in smart systems in which material properties such as chemical, mechanical, optical, and electrical characteristics respond to external stimuli. The applications of these innovative multifunctional multiscale materials are expected to have significant economic impacts via improved processes and products in many industry sectors, such as chemical, construction, energy, semiconductor, aerospace, and defense. Although the demand for advanced materials with multifunctional properties is expected to grow, reliable and consistent deposition of these materials with precise control remains a challenge. The printhead described here offers a path toward precise control of deposition of multi-material compositions.
Technology Description
This is a print head device and apparatus for printing reactive materials as they are generated in real time. There are active reactions taking place in the print head (in one example case, yttrium acetate and O2 to deposit yttria, Y2O3 nanoparticles). The carrier gas is inert (i.e., argon), and there appear to be separate channels for the carrier gas, including within the reactor chamber at the initial feed and then a secondary flow of carrier gas in a sheath around the print head convergent on the nozzle to facilitate jetting and deposition. This technology provides the possibility to synthesize nanomaterials at the point of application with no solvent necessary, provides new opportunities for novel nanostructures and features, and eliminates the need to store and transport potentially hazardous materials.
Benefits
- Solvent free nanomaterial printer
- Point of application deposition
- DCarbon-free nanomaterial inks
Applications
- 3D printing nanomaterials
- Digitally fabricating designed alloys
Opportunity
Oregon State University is Seeking development partners.
Status
Patent application submitted 17/814,914