- Resume
- mannen2@illinois.edu
- Masters Candidate (Expected Graduation – August 2013)
- B.S. – Texas A&M University, 2011
- Research Interests: Dynamics & Controls, Mechatronics, Micro/Nano-Manufacturing, Automation
As the size required for various electronic components and biological and sensors becomes increasingly smaller, new manufacturing techniques must be devised to meet the demand. The E-jet, which uses an electric field generated by applying a voltage to the nozzles in order to eject droplets, is capable of printing features at the micro- and nano-scale. The E-jet system consists of a grounded substrate placed on a 5-degree-of-freedom stage with a nozzle held with the tip approximately 30 μm from the substrate. The nozzle is sputter-coated so that it is conductive, and an electrode is attached. A voltage is applied to the nozzle, creating an electric field which draws the charged particles in the ink toward the substrate, creating a Taylor cone. When the electrical forces overcome the surface tension of the ink, a droplet is ejected onto the substrate. Previous research on the E-jet has included multiple-nozzle and multiple-material printing.
One of the main focus areas of my research is printing conductive inks. The precision and small feature size capabilities of the E-jet make it ideal for manufacturing very small electronic devices. Currently, I am printing silver nano-inks for device interconnects. The challenge is to maintain low electrical resistivity at line widths of only a few microns. Our ultimate goal is to be able to print devices and circuits entirely using the E-jet.
The second aim of my research is to develop a better understanding of the generation and trajectory of ink droplets through analytical modeling and simulation and use that knowledge to control droplet frequency and placement. The frequency of droplet generation can affect the width of a printed line. Therefore, in order to control line width, it is important to be able to predict and control the frequency of jetting. When the spacing between nozzles is very small, the electric field generated by one nozzle can interfere with the fields generated by its neighbors. This can prevent a droplet from being produced or affect its position on the substrate. My goal is to reduce or eliminate this interference problem.
