Printing

Abstract

Printed electronics is a potential technology for future display applications. This chapter describes the alternative printing techniques, with their performance, advantages, and challenges.We compare digital jet-printing with contact printing techniques such as gravure. Essential features of the printing processes are discussed, including the role of surface energy modification to control the printed drop size and morphology, the integration of different printed materials in multiple registered layers, and the ability to print small feature sizes. Since printing is performed from solution, the performance of various solution-based materials for the fabrication of thin-film transistors (TFT) is compared. Prototype display applications are illustrated with examples of TFT display backplanes that are either partially or completely printed, as well as various printed electronic control circuits.