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.
APPLICABLE INDUSTRIES
- Academia
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Consumer electronics
- Energy storage
- Sensors
- Smart textiles
COMMON MATERIALS
COMMON SUBSTRATES
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Polyimide/Kapton
- Paper
- Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
- Textiles
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY
FUTURE OUTLOOK
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.
Yes. Many applications require custom formulations to balance printability with performance targets. Adjusting particle loading, binder chemistry, solvents, and additives can tune viscosity, conductivity, adhesion, and curing behavior of the ink.
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.
Yes. Many applications require custom formulations to balance printability with performance targets. Adjusting particle loading, binder chemistry, solvents, and additives can tune viscosity, conductivity, adhesion, and curing behavior of the ink.
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.