3-D Printing of Flexible Two Terminal Electronic Memory Devices

Abstract

Recent strategy in the electronics sector is to ascertain the ways to make cheap, flexible and environmentally friendly electronic devices. The 3D inkjet printing technology is based on the Additive Manufacturing concept and it is with no doubt capable of revolutionising the whole system of manufacturing electronic devices including: material selection; design and fabrication steps and device configuration and architecture. Thus, 3D inkjet printing technology (IJP) is not only one of the most promising technologies to reduce the harmful radiation/ heat generation but also achieve reductions in manufacturing cost. Here, we explore the potential of 3D – inkjet printing technology to provide an innovative approach for electronic devices in especially information storage elements by seeking to manufacture and characterise state-of-art fully inkjet printed two terminal electronic memory devices. In this work, ink-jettable materials (Ag and PEDOT:PSS) were printed by a piezoelectric Epson Stylus P50 inkjet printing machine on a flexible substrate. All components of the memory cells of a simple metal/active layer/metal structure were deposited via inkjet printing. The quality of the printed layers was first assessed by Nikon LABOPHOT-2 optical microscope, fitted with Nikon Camera DS-Fi1. Furthermore, an in-depth electrical characterisation of the fabricated memory cells was carried out using HP4140B picoammeter.