This paper presents a novel electrohydrodynamic printing system with a retractable needle, by which both dots and bead-on-string structures can be fabricated. Solution concentration is the key element defining the ejection mode. Dots can be gained when solution concentration is lower, otherwise bead-on-string structures would be fabricated. Experimental results show that the diameter of the deposition dots increases with the increasing of supply rate and the decreasing of polyethylene oxide solution concentration. In addition, the deposition frequency has a fine synchronization with the retractable frequency of the needle.
WuNWilliamBR. Micro-and nano-patterns created via electrohydrodynamic instabilities. Nano Today2009; 4(2): 180–192.
2.
HuangZMZhangYZKotakiM. A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites. Composites Sci Technol2003; 63(15): 2223–2253.
3.
LeeDYShinYSParkSE. Electrohydrodynamic printing of silver nanoparticles by using a focused nanocolloid jet. Appl Phys Lett2007; 90(8): 0819051–0819053.
4.
PaineMDAlexanderMSSmithKL. Controlled electrospray pulsation for deposition of femtoliter fluid droplets onto surfaces. J Aerosol Sci2007; 38(3): 315–324.
5.
LiJL. On the meniscus deformation when the pulsed voltage is applied. J Electrostatics2006; 64(1): 44–52.
6.
HuangYFZhengGFXuL. Bead-on-string structure formed by electrohydrodynamic printing. In: 5th IEEE conference on nano/micro engineered and molecular systems, Xiamen, China, January 2010, pp.537–540.
7.
XuLWangXLeiTP. Electrohydrodynamic deposition of polymeric droplets under low-frequency pulsation. Langmuir2011; 27(10): 6541–6548.
8.
RenekerDHYarinAL. Eletrospinning jets and polymer nanofibers. Polymer2008: 49(10): 2387–2425.
