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Shakthivel D, Christou A, Liu F, Dahiya R. Site-Specific Growth and Printing of Nanowires for Resource Efficient Fabrication of Flexible Electronics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2025; 21:e2412685. [PMID: 40095419 PMCID: PMC12036555 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202412685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025]
Abstract
Semiconducting nanowires (NWs) hold great potential for high-performance flexible electronics. However, using them, to fabricate electronic devices, is a complex process requiring multiple lithography steps to address the issues such as the one arising from mismatches between the temperatures needed for NW growth and the temperatures the polymeric substrates can withstand. Herein, a facile "design to fab" approach is presented, which avoids lithography-based fabrication by implementing the device layout at the NW synthesis level itself. This is demonstrated by synthesizing the arrays of ZnO NWs at pre-defined locations, followed by their direct printing on flexible substrates using custom contact printing method. The ZnO NWs-based printed nanoscale electronic layers exhibit excellent spatial uniformity (NW length, 18-26 µm) and alignment (88-96°). The patterned electronic layers are further processed (e.g., printed conductive tracks) at room temperature to develop proof of concept UV photodetectors. The presented approach significantly reduces the fabrication complexity by eliminating the lithography-related steps and lays the foundation for resource-efficient fabrication of NWs-based large-area flexible electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Shakthivel
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - A. Christou
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - F. Liu
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - R. Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
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Karagiorgis X, Nair NM, Sandhu S, Dahiya AS, Skabara PJ, Dahiya R. Fully degradable, transparent, and flexible photodetectors using ZnO nanowires and PEDOT:PSS based nanofibres. NPJ FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS 2025; 9:22. [PMID: 40078828 PMCID: PMC11893464 DOI: 10.1038/s41528-025-00385-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025]
Abstract
Transparent light detection devices are attractive for emerging see-through applications such as augmented reality, smart windows and optical communications using light fidelity (Li-Fi). Herein, we present flexible and transparent photodetectors (PDs) using conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS): Ag nanowires (NWs) based nanofibres and zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs on a transparent and degradable cellulose acetate (CA) substrate. The electrospun (PEDOT:PSS): Ag NW-based nanofibres exhibit a sheet resistance of 11 Ω/sq and optical transmittance of 79% (at 550 nm of wavelength). The PDs comprise of ZnO NWs, as photosensitive materials, bridging the electrode based on conductive nanofibres on CA substrate. The developed PDs exhibit high responsivity (1.10 ×106 A/W) and show excellent stability under dynamic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, and on both flat and curved surfaces. The eco-friendly PDs present here can degrade naturally at the end of life - thus offering an electronic waste-free solution for transparent electrodes and flexible optoelectronics applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenofon Karagiorgis
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ UK
| | - Nitheesh M. Nair
- Institute of Smart Sensors, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, 70569 Germany
| | - Sofia Sandhu
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Abhishek Singh Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | | | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 USA
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Liu F, Christou A, Dahiya AS, Dahiya R. From Printed Devices to Vertically Stacked, 3D Flexible Hybrid Systems. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2025; 37:e2411151. [PMID: 39888128 PMCID: PMC11899526 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202411151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 11/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2025]
Abstract
The pursuit of miniaturized Si electronics has revolutionized computing and communication. During recent years, the value addition in electronics has also been achieved through printing, flexible and stretchable electronics form factors, and integration over areas larger than wafer size. Unlike Si semiconductor manufacturing which takes months from tape-out to wafer production, printed electronics offers greater flexibility and fast-prototyping capabilities with lesser resources and waste generation. While significant advances have been made with various types of printed sensors and other passive devices, printed circuits still lag behind Si-based electronics in terms of performance, integration density, and functionality. In this regard, recent advances using high-resolution printing coupled with the use of high mobility materials and device engineering, for both in-plane and out-of-plane integration, raise hopes. This paper focuses on the progress in printed electronics, highlighting emerging printing technologies and related aspects such as resource efficiency, environmental impact, integration scale, and the novel functionalities enabled by vertical integration of printed electronics. By highlighting these advances, this paper intends to reveal the future promise of printed electronics as a sustainable and resource-efficient route for realizing high-performance integrated circuits and systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyuan Liu
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
- Microsystems Technology UnitCentre for Sensors & DevicesFondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK)Via Sommarive, 18Trento38123Italy
| | - Adamos Christou
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Abhishek Singh Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) GroupDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
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Eom W, Hossain MT, Parasramka V, Kim J, Siu RWY, Sanders KA, Piorkowski D, Lowe A, Koh HG, De Volder MFL, Fudge DS, Ewoldt RH, Tawfick SH. Fast 3D printing of fine, continuous, and soft fibers via embedded solvent exchange. Nat Commun 2025; 16:842. [PMID: 39833187 PMCID: PMC11746892 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2025] [Indexed: 01/22/2025] Open
Abstract
Nature uses fibrous structures for sensing and structural functions as observed in hairs, whiskers, stereocilia, spider silks, and hagfish slime thread skeins. Here, we demonstrate multi-nozzle printing of 3D hair arrays having freeform trajectories at a very high rate, with fiber diameters as fine as 1.5 µm, continuous lengths reaching tens of centimeters, and a wide range of materials with elastic moduli from 5 MPa to 3500 MPa. This is achieved via 3D printing by rapid solvent exchange in high yield stress micro granular gel, leading to radial solidification of the extruded polymer filament at a rate of 2.33 μm/s. This process extrudes filaments at 5 mm/s, which is 500,000 times faster than meniscus printing owing to the rapid solidification which prevents capillarity-induced fiber breakage. This study demonstrates the potential of 3D printing by rapid solvent exchange as a fast and scalable process for replicating natural fibrous structures for use in biomimetic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsik Eom
- Department of Fiber Convergence Material Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin-si, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mohammad Tanver Hossain
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Vidush Parasramka
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jeongmin Kim
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ryan W Y Siu
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kate A Sanders
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dakota Piorkowski
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Lowe
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Hyun Gi Koh
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Douglas S Fudge
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Randy H Ewoldt
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sameh H Tawfick
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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De Pamphilis L, Ma S, Dahiya AS, Christou A, Dahiya R. Site-Selective Nanowire Synthesis and Fabrication of Printed Memristor Arrays with Ultralow Switching Voltages on Flexible Substrate. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:60394-60403. [PMID: 39450971 PMCID: PMC11551952 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c07172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 10/09/2024] [Accepted: 10/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
Large area electronics (LAE) with the capability to sense and retain information are crucial for advances in applications such as wearables, digital healthcare, and robotics. The big data generated by these sensor-laden systems need to be scaled down or processed locally. In this regard, brain-inspired computing and in-memory computing have attracted considerable interest. However, suitable architectures have mainly been developed using costly and resource-intensive conventional lithography-based methods. There is a need for the development of innovative, resource-efficient fabrication routes that enable such devices and concepts. Herein, we present ZnO nanowire (NW)-based memristors on a polyimide substrate fabricated by a LAE-compatible and resource-efficient route comprising solution processing and printing technologies. High-resolution "drop-on-demand" and "direct ink write" printers are employed to deposit metallic layers (silver and gold) and a ZnO seed layer, needed for the site-selective growth of ZnO NWs via a low-cost hydrothermal method. The printed memristors show high bipolar resistance switching (ON/OFF ratio >103) between two nonvolatile states and consistent switching at ultralow voltages (all devices showed switching at amplitudes <200 mV), with the best performing device showing consistent cycled resistance switching over 4 orders of magnitude with SET and RESET voltages of about 71 and -57 mV, respectively. Thus, the presented devices offer reliable high resistance switching at the lowest reported voltage for printed memristors and prove to be competitive with many conventional nanofabrication-based devices. The presented results show the potential printed memristors technology holds for large-area, low-voltage sensing applications such as electronic skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca De Pamphilis
- James
Watt School of Engineering, University of
Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Sihang Ma
- James
Watt School of Engineering, University of
Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Abhishek Singh Dahiya
- Bendable
Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Adamos Christou
- Bendable
Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable
Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Karagiorgis X, Shakthivel D, Khandelwal G, Ginesi R, Skabara PJ, Dahiya R. Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS: Ag Nanowire-Based Nanofibers for Transparent Flexible Electronics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:19551-19562. [PMID: 38567787 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Highly conductive, transparent, and easily available materials are needed in a wide range of devices, such as sensors, solar cells, and touch screens, as alternatives to expensive and unsustainable materials such as indium tin oxide. Herein, electrospinning was employed to develop fibers of PEDOT:PSS/silver nanowire (AgNW) composites on various substrates, including poly(caprolactone) (PCL), cotton fabric, and Kapton. The influence of AgNWs, as well as the applied voltage of electrospinning on the conductivity of fibers, was thoroughly investigated. The developed fibers showed a sheet resistance of 7 Ω/sq, a conductivity of 354 S/cm, and a transmittance value of 77%, providing excellent optoelectrical properties. Further, the effect of bending on the fibers' electrical properties was analyzed. The sheet resistance of fibers on the PCL substrate increased slightly from 7 to 8 Ω/sq, after 1000 bending cycles. Subsequently, as a proof of concept, the nanofibers were evaluated as electrode material in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based energy harvester, and they were observed to enhance the performance of the TENG device (78.83 V and 7 μA output voltage and current, respectively), as compared to the same device using copper electrodes. These experiments highlight the untapped potential of conductive electrospun fibers for flexible and transparent electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenofon Karagiorgis
- James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, U.K
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, U.K
| | - Dhayalan Shakthivel
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Gaurav Khandelwal
- James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, U.K
| | - Rebecca Ginesi
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, U.K
| | - Peter J Skabara
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, U.K
| | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Group, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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