Conductive ink is an
ink
Ink is a gel, sol, or solution that contains at least one colorant, such as a dye or pigment, and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with a pen, brush, reed pen, or quill. Thicker ...
that results in a printed object which
conducts electricity. It is typically created by infusing
graphite
Graphite () is a crystalline form of the element carbon. It consists of stacked layers of graphene. Graphite occurs naturally and is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Synthetic and natural graphite are consumed on lar ...
or other conductive materials into ink.
There has been a growing interest in replacing metallic materials with nanomaterials due to the emergence of nanotechnology. Among other nanomaterials,
graphene
Graphene () is an allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice nanostructure. , and carbon nanotube-based conductive ink are gaining immense popularity due to their high electrical conductivity and high surface area. Recently, more attention has been paid on using eco-friendly conductive ink using water as a solvent as compared to organic solvents since they are harmful to the environment. However, the high
surface tension of water prevents its applicability. Various natural and synthetic surfactants are now used to reduce the surface tension of water and ensure uniform nanomaterials dispersibility for smooth printing and wide application.
[{{cite journal , last1=Khan , first1=Junaid , last2=Mariatti , first2=M. , title=Effect of natural surfactant on the performance of reduced graphene oxide conductive ink , journal=Journal of Cleaner Production , date=20 November 2022 , volume=376 , pages=134254 , doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134254 , s2cid=252524219 , url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652622038264 , language=en , issn=0959-6526]
Silver inks have multiple uses today including printing
RFID tags as used in modern
transit tickets, they can be used to improvise or repair circuits on
printed circuit boards
A printed circuit board (PCB; also printed wiring board or PWB) is a medium used in electrical and electronic engineering to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner. It takes the form of a laminated sandwich struc ...
.
Computer keyboard
A computer keyboard is a peripheral input device modeled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. Replacing early punched cards and paper tape technolog ...
s contain membranes with printed circuits that sense when a key is pressed. Windshield
defrosters consisting of
resistive traces applied to the glass are also printed.
See also
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Circuit Scribe
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Etching
Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other types ...
*
Organic solar cell
An organic solar cell (OSC) or plastic solar cell is a type of photovoltaic that uses organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules, for light absorption and charge transport t ...
*
Plextronics
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Teledeltos Teledeltos paper is an electrically conductive paper. It is formed by a coating of carbon on one side of a sheet of paper, giving one black and one white side. Western Union developed Teledeltos paper in the late 1940s (several decades after it was ...
References
Electrical components
Inks