Alternating Current Electrohydrodynamic Printing of Microdroplets

Abstract EN

This paper discusses the technology of orderly printing of microdroplets by means of electrohydrodynamic print (EHDP) with alternating current (AC).

The AC electric field induces charges to reciprocate in the electrohydrodynamic charged jet and generates periodic alternation of electric field force, which facilitates the breakup of charged jets and injection of microdroplets.

Microdroplets with a diameter of 100~300 μm can be printed with a frequency of 5~25 Hz via AC EHDP.

Effects of process parameters on the microdroplet injection behaviors were investigated.

A higher frequency of applied AC voltage led to a higher deposition frequency, but smaller diameters of printed droplets.

Deposition frequency and droplet diameters increased with the increase of duty cycle and solution supply rate.

AC pulse voltage has provided a novel way to study the control technology in EHDP, which would accelerate the application of inkjet printing in the field of micro/nanosystem production.