Universities Space Research Association

Jessica E Koehne

Meyya Meyyappan

Ramprasad Gandhiraman

A device and method for printing 3D articles including electronic and functional elements including 3D printer and a plasma jet printer based on a dielectric barrier atmospheric pressure plasma jet system in which both printing and in-situ treatment and post-deposition treatment can be carried out to tailor the materials characteristics. Plasma jet printer comprising of electrodes in the nozzle/print head for applying electric field and generating atmospheric plasma that could be used for non-gravity based highly directional printing in any direction. Integration of dielectric barrier plasma printer and plasma treatment jets with the 3D printer increases the capability of embedding high performance electronics in a 3D printed structure aiding in additive manufacturing of functional devices. Ability to use a range of materials for print head assembly including micro machined silicon increases the resolution of the plasma jet printer to sub-micron level.

3D printed electronics using directional plasma jet

Systems and methods for highly reproducible and focused plasma jet printing and patterning of materials using appropriate ink containing aerosol through nozzles with narrow orifice and tubes with controlled dielectric constant connected to high voltage power supply, in the presence of electric field and plasma, that enables morphological and/or bulk chemical modification and/or surface chemical modification of the material in the aerosol and/or the substrate prior to printing, during printing and post printing.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Jessica E Koehne