| dc.description.abstract | Ink-jet printing of nano-metallic colloidal fluids on to
porous media such as coated papers has become a viable
method to produce conductive tracks for low-cost,
disposable printed electronic devices. However, the
formation of well-defined and functional tracks on an
absorbing surface is controlled by the drop imbibition
dynamics in addition to the well-studied post-impact drop
spreading behavior.
This study represents the first investigation of the realtime
imbibition of ink-jet deposited nano-Cu colloid drops
on to coated paper substrates. In addition, the same ink was
deposited on to a non-porous polymer surface as a control
substrate. By using high-speed video imaging to capture the
deposition of ink-jet drops, the time-scales of drop
spreading and imbibition were quantified and compared
with model predictions. The influences of the coating pore
size on the bulk absorption rate and nano-Cu particle
distribution have also been studied. | |
