Highly Conductive Graphene Electronics by Inkjet Printing

Abstract

Graphene is currently emerging as an alternative to traditional conductive materials, such as copper and silver because of its excellent electrical conductivity and earth's carbon abundance. Graphene can be applied in many different electronic fields with different manufacturing methods to meet their specific requirements, which promote the development of advanced manufacturing technology in graphene electrical applications. Inkjet printing, as an environmentally friendly, low-cost and simple-to-operate advanced manufacturing method, has broad development prospects especially in the field of flexible electronics. In this review, several factors affecting the electrical conduction property of graphene applications in the inkjet-printed graphene process are listed as follows: the preparation method of ink, material and treatment of substrate, thickness of print, and annealing, especially whether a coffee ring is produced. In addition, this paper also cites some examples of inkjet-printed graphene in electrical conductivity. In order to continuously improve the procedure designs of graphene electronics fabrication, more accurate relationships between electrical conductivity of graphene and these parameters can be built. Based on the excellent prospect of inkjet printing technology in the field of conductive electronics, there will be some further research about the perfect implementation of graphene’s electrical conductivity.