Fabrication of 3D Temperature Sensor Using Magnetostrictive Inkjet Printhead

Abstract

Recently, the three-dimensional (3D) printing technique has received much attention for the shape forming and manufacturing. In this work, for the first time, we present the fabrication of inkjet printed 3-diamentional (3D) low cost temperature sensor on a 3D shaped thermoplastic substrate suitable for packaging, flexible electronics and other printed application. The design, fabrication and testing of a 3D printed temperature sensor is presented. The sensor pattern is designed using computer-aided design (CAD) program and fabricated by inkjet printing with a drop-on-demand (DoD) using magnetostrictive inkjet printhead at room temperature. The sensing pattern is printed using commercially available conductive silver nanoparticles ink (AgNPs). The moving speed of 90 mm/min is chosen to print the sensor pattern. The inkjet printed temperature sensor is demonstrated and characterized with good electrical properties, showing a good sensitivity and linearity. The results indicate that the 3D inkjet printing technology may have a great applied potential in sensor fabrication.