Controlling micro ceramic patterns via multiple/sequential drop-on-demand inkjet printing of dilute colloidal suspensions

• Multi-pass DOD inkjet printing of a dilute SOFC cathode solid-solvent suspension.
• Key inkjet variables are tuned to obtain vital layer to layer deposition accuracy.
• Microfeatures ∼90 μm on the x/y axis and ≤1 μm on the z axis are demonstrated.
• Unique ‘volcano’ features are observed with inks containing ethyl cellulose.

Drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printing has great potential for fabricating miniature ceramic devices that are currently constructed by more complicated, time consuming, and costly procedures. In this study, micro La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3 (LSFC) patterns are crafted via DOD inkjet printing. A dilute solid-solvent colloidal ink suspension composed of LSFC, a common solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode material, suspended in α-terpineol solvent, was printed with multiple, sequential inkjet passes. Critical process parameters were identified and tuned to achieve acceptable layer to layer deposition accuracy. Micro 0-D dots and micro 1-D lines with x/y dimensions <100 μm and z-axis dimensions <1 μm were demonstrated. Addition of ethyl cellulose to the ink resulted in unique ‘volcano’ features which may benefit miniature SOFCs with a density shift between the feature’s center and ridge.

Critical Drop-on-Demand inkjet process variables are identified and tuned to fabricate micro ceramic features with multiple, sequential inkjet passes using LSCF cathode colloidal suspension.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide