| Abstract Scope |
Material extrusion (MEX) using nanomaterial-polymer inks is a new research area with promising potential in developing functional composites, sensors, and biostructures. This presentation summarizes the progresses of our group in tackling the fundamental challenge of printability evaluation, developing printable sensors, and exploring the integration of MEX with other manufacturing technologies. First, we have evaluated ink printability using SiO2 nanoparticle and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) systems using three printability analysis methods: printing line width analysis, dual-layer printing analysis (DLPA), and ink rheology analysis. We have found DLPA to be the most reliable for assessing ink printability. Second, we have achieved multifunctional sensors with silver, MXene, and polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), showing promising capabilities in proximity sensing, pressure sensing, and virus detection. Third, we have developed tunable strain sensors by integrating acoustic-assisted assembly of graphene flakes on MEX-printed PDMS structures, achieving adjustable gauge factors. |