Inkjet printing of 3D metallic silver complex microstructures

To broaden the scope of inkjet printing, this paper focuses on printing of an organic silver complex ink on glass substrates towards the fabrication of metallic 3D microstructures. The droplet formation sequence of the inkjet printer is optimised to print continuous layers of metal. A brief discussion on orientation trials, aimed at optimising the print parameters, is followed by two different methodologies of printing 3D microstructures: wet-in-wet and wet-in-dry. The surface topography of the end product and the possibility to stack layer-upon-layer using these two methodologies are the main criteria investigated in this paper.