Functional Ink Development

Rapidly iterate novel material formulations within hours

Functional Ink Development

Rapidly iterate novel material formulations within hours

In printed electronics, a functional ink is a material engineered to enable specific properties such as conductivity, insulation, adhesion, and luminescence. The characteristics of these inks — including viscosity, surface tension, solid content, and particle size — vary depending on the printing technology used [1].

In direct ink writing (DIW), functional inks, whether organic or inorganic, are typically formulated at the micro- or nanoscale. Common materials include metal-based inks (silver, gold, copper) and nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNT). They enable diverse applications, such as biosensing, energy storage, smart packaging, and more.

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APPLICABLE INDUSTRIES

Academia
Aerospace
Automotive
Consumer electronics
Energy storage
Sensors
Smart textiles‍

COMMON MATERIALS

Metal-based inks: gold, silver, copper, aluminum
Carbon-based inks: CNT, graphene
Polymers: PEDOT:PSS, polyacetylene
Oxide ceramics: antimony tin oxide, fluorin tin oxide
Silicone
Resins‍

COMMON SUBSTRATES

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyimide/Kapton
Paper
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Textiles‍

INDUSTRY

FUTURE OUTLOOK

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FAST FACTS

Frequently asked questions

Functional inks can be organic or inorganic, and often include:
- Metals such as silver, copper, and gold
- Carbon materials such as CNTs, graphene, and carbon black
- Polymers such as PEDOT:PSS and other conductive polymers
- Ceramics and oxides such as ATO, ITO, zinc oxide
The choice depends on the performance requirements of the printed device. To Learn more about functional inks, read our blog What Are Functional Inks.
Very quickly. A direct ink writing (DIW) printer like NOVA lets you:
- Print, test, adjust rheology, and re-print in the same session
- Observe shape retention and print fidelity in real time
- Swap nozzles for different resolution requirements
This enables hour-scale iteration instead of multi-months with outsourced testing.

Functional inks can be organic or inorganic, and often include:
- Metals such as silver, copper, and gold
- Carbon materials such as CNTs, graphene, and carbon black
- Polymers such as PEDOT:PSS and other conductive polymers
- Ceramics and oxides such as ATO, ITO, zinc oxide
The choice depends on the performance requirements of the printed device. To Learn more about functional inks, read our blog What Are Functional Inks.

Very quickly. A direct ink writing (DIW) printer like NOVA lets you:
- Print, test, adjust rheology, and re-print in the same session
- Observe shape retention and print fidelity in real time
- Swap nozzles for different resolution requirements
This enables hour-scale iteration instead of multi-months with outsourced testing.

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