Abstract
Here we report the methodology for nanocomposite fabrication based on the inkjet printing technique. Doped TiO2 nanoparticles with Sc contents up to 10 wt.% were synthesized and adapted towards a facile fabrication of microscale structures and thin film printing. Implementation of the state-of-the-art low-temperature synthesis allowed to us successfully incorporate high concentrations of Sc3+ ions into the TiO2 lattice and improve the light absorption characteristics of the resulting materials. Without affecting the anatase structure substantially, Sc doping gave rise to an intensified absorbance capacity and provided the means for the efficient fabrication of Sc-TiO2 microarchitectures via the inkjet printing technique. The changes in the spectral and structural characteristics of the Sc-TiO2 composites were observed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-vis methods. The rheological parameters of the colloidal suspension based on the synthesized Sc-TiO2 nanoparticles were adapted for inkjet printing in terms of the optimal viscosity, morphology, and surface tension. The developed individual ink characteristics allowed us to produce a close coherence between the enhanced optical properties of the Sc-TiO2 prepared the sol–gel method and the inkjet-printed films. The introduced methodology features the possibility to inkjet-print doped and pure TiO2 robust films for potential large-scale fabrication.
Highlights
Access to alternative energy sources is the key factor that enables sustainable development strategies and environmentally friendly energy technologies [1,2]
The resulting inks were prepared on the base of synthesized pure and Sc-doped TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in ethylene glycol with such dispersants as the surfactant Dynax DX4000
The synthetic approach used here followed procedure introduced previously for the sol–gel synthesis of anatase nanoparticles with the addition a procedure introduced previously for the sol–gel synthesis of anatase nanoparticles with the addition of a stoichiometric amount of scandium ions
Summary
Access to alternative energy sources is the key factor that enables sustainable development strategies and environmentally friendly energy technologies [1,2] In this context, engineering materials with desirable characteristics and the scale-up of their production to the industrial level are crucial manufacturing stages. Inkjet printing is a flexible and versatile additive manufacturing technique suitable both for thin film and microrelief production, well adapted for laboratory and industry applications [7,8,9]. It can be used for precise deposition with an accuracy of 1–2 μm. Being controlled by a computer, the high printing accuracy along with the availability of the various substrates significantly simplify the technology and facilitate the production of complex heterostructures [13,14]
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