Screen Printing Research Articles

Functionalization of Cotton Textiles via Screen Printing of Aronia melanocarpa Berry Extract–Chitosan Mixtures

ABSTRACT The use of plant-based materials as alternatives to the hazardous synthetic chemicals traditionally employed in textile production can help create a more sustainable society; however, such materials have not been explored in sufficient detail. Herein, cotton fabrics were screen-printed with pastes containing Aronia berry extract (AE) and chitosan (CS), dried, cured, and washed. Subsequently, the printed fabrics were investigated in terms of their color, mechanical properties, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The obtained results revealed that AE and CS played distinctive functional roles as finishing agents in the cotton fabric treatment. The AE content in the pastes was positively correlated with a* and b* but negatively correlated with L*, and the presence of CS improved colorfastness against washing and light exposure. The fabrics printed with pastes containing ≥ 20% (w/v) AE and 2% (w/v) CS demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, while CS increased the activity resistance to washing. The fabrics printed with a paste containing 40% (w/v) AE exhibited an antioxidant capacity of ~ 70%. Thus, this study contributes to the field of sustainable textile functionalization and the use of plant extract – CS blends for screen printing.

Development of paper-based microfluidic analytical device (μPAD) for the determination of paracetamol in water samples: Optimization using response surface methodology (RSM)

Detecting and quantifying pharmaceutical compounds in various environmental matrices is complex and challenging. This difficulty stems from the trace levels at which these compounds are found and the lack of analytical methods that are rapid, cost-effective, and portable. To address these challenges, this study aimed to develop microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μ-PADs) using beeswax screen printing for fabrication. Key parameters, including reaction time, concentration, reagent volume, and channel length, were optimized using response surface methodology. Under optimal conditions of 5 ppm sample concentration, 10 μL reagent volume, 10 min reaction time, and 2 cm channel length, the analytical performance of the μPAD was evaluated and compared with the standard UV–Vis spectrophotometry method. The microfluidic analytical device demonstrated detection limits at 0.03 μg/ml, compared to 0.01 μg/ml for the UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Although the sensitivity of µ-PADs in this study (0.03 μg/ml) is lower than that of UV–Vis (0.01 μg/ml), it represents an improvement over the previous µ-PAD report (1 μg/ml) on the same analytes. Both methods exhibited commendable precision, with a relative standard deviation below 2%. Additionally, recovery rates were acceptable and comparable, ranging from 86.8 to 99.6% for µ-PADs and 96.5–99% for UV–Vis. The analytical performance evaluation suggests that µPADs provide excellent sensitivity, precision, and accuracy for trace-level paracetamol analysis. A paired t-test further confirmed no statistically significant difference between the two methods, underscoring the promising potential of µ-PADs for trace-level paracetamol quantification in water samples without conventional analytical instruments.

Electrochemical Sensing/Biosensing ‐ Bench to Market

The proposition of new sensors based on carbon (nano)structures as well as metal (nano)particles is a great alternative for electroanalysis. In this context, graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon black and fullerene, as well as gold, silver, platinum, copper are the most common materials employed [1]. Also, biomolecules such as antibodies, DNA sequences, enzymes and aptamers can be promising molecular recognition elements and enable specific sensor/biosensor designs, with interferent species [2]. Since the pioneering works from Professor Joseph Wang [3,4], the screen‐printed and disposable electrodes have been reported in the literature as options to be used in point‐of‐care and point‐of use sites. Also, the evolution of 3D printing [5] and wearable devices have led to an increase in the number of papers reporting on their use.. The “Achilles heel” is that the laboratory creations don't make it to the market place [6]. Therefore, academia needs to think more about in the validation, demonstration and promotion of the laboratory developed technology with of new companies based on startups, for example, to attract investments and promote these sensors to commercial ones. In this context, the special issue “Electrochemical Sensing/Biosensing ‐ Bench to Market” brings the discussion and advances of electrochemical sensors, which can be used in many areas, such as medical, environmental, food safety, pharmaceutical, and forensic. For this purpose, the preparation, characterization, and application of these devices have attracted interest. Studies of the production, shelf‐life as well as reproducibility, and repeatability have been highlighted for mass production. Important subjects such as screen printing, and 3D printing are welcome for submissions. Therefore, we expect you to enjoy this Special Issue published in Electroanalysis.

Precise Regulation Strategy for Fluorescence Wavelength of Aggregation-Induced Emission Carbon Dots.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) carbon dot (CDs) in solid state with tunable multicolor emissions have sparked significant interest in multidimensional anti-counterfeiting. However, the realization of solid-state fluorescence (SSF) by AIE effect and the regulation of fluorescence wavelength in solid state is a great challenge. In order to solve this dilemma, the AIE method to prepare multi-color solid-state CDs with fluorescence wavelengths ranging from bright blue to red emission is employed. Specifically, by using thiosalicylic acid and carbonyl hydrazine as precursors, the fluorescence wavelength can be accurately adjusted by varying the reaction temperature from 150 to 230°C or changing the molar ratio of the precursors from 1:1 to 1:2. Structural analysis and theoretical calculations consistently indicate that increasing the sp2 domains or doping with graphite nitrogen both cause a redshift in the fluorescence wavelength of CDs in the solid state. Moreover, with the multi-dimensional and adjustable fluorescence wavelength, the application of AIE CDs in the fields of multi-anti-counterfeiting encryption, ink printing, and screen printing is demonstrated. All in all, this work opens up a new way for preparing solid-state multi-color CDs using AIE effect, and further proposes an innovative strategy for controlling fluorescence wavelengths.

Developing Screen-Printing Processes for Silver Electrodes Towards All-Solution Coating Processes for Solar Cells

In recent years, third-generation solar cells have experienced a remarkable growth in efficiency, making them a highly promising alternative energy solution. Currently, high-efficiency solar cells often use top electrodes fabricated by thermal evaporation, which rely on high-cost and high energy-consumption vacuum equipment, raising significant concerns for mass production. This study develops a method for fabricating silver electrodes using the screen-printing process, aiming to achieve solar cell production through an all-solution coating process. By selecting appropriate blocking-layer materials and optimizing the process, we have achieved device efficiencies for organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with screen-printed silver electrodes comparable to those with silver electrodes fabricated by thermal evaporation. Furthermore, we developed a method to cure the silver ink using near-infrared (NIR) annealing, significantly reducing the curing time from 30 min with hot air annealing to just 5 s. Additionally, by employing sheet-to-sheet (S2S) slot-die coating, we scaled up the device area and completed module development, successfully verifying stability in ambient air. We have also extended the application of screen-printed silver electrodes to perovskite solar cells (PSCs).

Implementasi Metode CRM (Customer Relationship Management) pada Sistem Informasi Website Nadu Screen Printing

This research aims to implement the CRM (customer relationship management) method on the Nadu Screen Printing website information system which is useful for simplifying customer orders and processing customer databases. This research uses the Agile software development method. The evaluation results with the System Usability Scale (SUS) show that this system meets the standards with a final score reaching 86.5 in the "Acceptable" category with a grade scale of "A" and a rating of "Best Imaginable".

Self-Assembly Hybrid Manufacture of Nanoarrays for Metasurfaces.

The development of metasurfaces necessitates the rapid fabrication of nanoarrays on diverse substrates at large scales, the preparation of patterned nanoarrays on both planar and curved surfaces, and even the creation of nanoarrays on prefabricated structures to form multiscale metastructures. However, conventional fabrication methods fall short of these rigorous requirements. In this work, a novel self-assembly hybrid manufacturing (SAHM) method is introduced for the rapid and scalable fabrication of shape-controllable nanoarrays on various rigid and flexible substrates. This method can be easily integrated with other fabrication techniques, such as lithography and screen printing, to produce patterned nanoarrays on both planar and non-developable surfaces. Utilizing the SAHM method, nanoarrays are fabricated on prefabricated micropillars to create multiscale pillar-nanoarray metastructures. Measurements indicate that these multiscale metastructures can manipulate electromagnetic waves across a range of wavelengths. Therefore, the SAHM method demonstrates the potential of multiscale structures as a new paradigm for the design and fabrication of metasurfaces.

Bioinspired Hierarchical Porous Architecture for Enhanced Kinetics and Mechanical Integrity in Thick Cathode.

Increasing the thickness of the electrodes is considered the primary strategy to elevate battery energy density. However, as the thickness increases, rate performance, cycling performance, and mechanical stability are affected due to the sluggish ion transfer kinetics and compromised structural integrity. Inspired by the natural hierarchical porous structure of trees, electrodes with bioinspired architecture are fabricated to address these challenges. Specifically, electrodes with aligned columns consist of tree-inspired vertical channels, and hierarchical pores are constructed by screen printing and ice-templating, imparting enhanced electrochemical and mechanical performance. Employing an aqueous-based binder, the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 cathode achieves a high areal energy density of 15.1 mWh cm-2 at a rate of 1C at mass loading of 26.0mg cm-2,benefitting from the multiscale pores that elevated charge transfer kinetics in the thick electrode. The electrodes demonstrate capacity retention of 90% at the 100th cycle at a high current density of 5.2mA cm-2. To understand the mechanisms that promote electrode performance, simplified electro-chemo-mechanical models are developed,the drying process and the charge-discharge process are simulated. The simulation results suggested that the improved performance of the designed electrode benefits from the lower ohmic overpotential and less strain gradient and stress concentration due to the hierarchical porous architecture.

Donor–π bridge-acceptor dyes featuring dual chromophoric groups for enhanced sensitivity in wearable sweat sensor

The pH value of human sweat serves as a crucial biomarker for disease diagnosis, rendering wearable sweat sensors an innovative tool for monitoring human health. However, the commercialization of these devices is seriously impeded by their low sensitivity, poor wearing comfort, and limited reusability. In this work, a reactive dye capable of color change under pH change has been synthesized. Due to the unique molecular structure, the dye molecule exhibits remarkable color change recognition and high sensitivity. To fabricate a wearable pH sensor, screen printing technology was employed for depositing the color-changing dye onto cotton fabric. The resulting sensor demonstrated excellent performance attributes including high color sensitivity, robust cyclic stability in response to pH changes, and exceptional resistance against washing, friction, and sunlight-induced fading. Therefore, this study presents a highly promising approach for achieving real-time monitoring of human sweat pH levels.

An Exploration of Alkaline Degumming in the Printing and Dyeing Process of Silk Georgette

Alkali printing was one of the traditional techniques employed for printing on silk georgette in ancient China. This study investigates two degumming methods in alkaline printing processes, namely alkaline boiling and alkaline steaming, based on the principles of Tang Dynasty alkaline printing techniques. The effects of slaked lime concentration, steam temperature, and steam duration on the degumming rate of silk georgette are studied. Alkaline boiling is found to be rapid and effective, achieving a degumming rate of 27% at 80 °C in 30 min, whereas alkaline steaming requires a prolonged process with a maximum degumming rate of less than 20% before the water reaches its boiling point. Additionally, the differences in dyeing effects at various degumming rates, and the variations in pattern clarity and detail under alkaline steaming, were compared. Although both degumming methods can achieve the desired amount of degumming rate through process control, alkaline steaming allows for integration with methods like screen printing and rotary printing, offering better control over pattern freedom and detail. The combination of these two processes can further expand the artistic expression and application of traditional alkaline printing techniques in contemporary silk degumming printing.

A Novel Wearable Sensor for Measuring Respiration Continuously and in Real Time.

In this work, a flexible textile-based capacitive respiratory sensor, based on a capacitive sensor structure, that does not require direct skin contact is designed, optimised, and evaluated using both computational modelling and empirical measurements. In the computational study, the geometry of the sensor was examined. This analysis involved observing the capacitance and frequency variations using a cylindrical model that mimicked the human body. Four designs were selected which were then manufactured by screen printing multiple functional layers on top of a polyester/cotton fabric. The printed sensors were characterised to detect the performance against phantoms and impacts from artefacts, normally present whilst wearing the device. A sensor that has an electrode ratio of 1:3:1 (sensor, reflector, and ground) was shown to be the most sensitive design, as it exhibits the highest sensitivity of 6.2% frequency change when exposed to phantoms. To ensure the replicability of the sensors, several batches of identical sensors were developed and tested using the same physical parameters, which resulted in the same percentage frequency change. The sensor was further tested on volunteers, showing that the sensor measures respiration with 98.68% accuracy compared to manual breath counting.

REVIEW OF TEXTILE PRINTING: DIFFERENTIATION OF BLOCK, SCREEN & DIGITAL PRINTING

In India is well known for its traditional culture and art features. Hand block printing techniques are practiced in Rajasthan. Hence, the block printing is a slow process. Printing process of desired pattern is defined and repeated. The various styles for block printing are significant of the country in rich culture and heritage. It is a unique of each region will have a different variations of traditional craft. That was crafted for propagating Hindus mythology of depicted folk style story transform of imagination forms of God and goddess in literature. In this article, we will discuss about block printing, the development digital printing and manual of screen printing. The comparison of these three styles of textiles printing. It is a oldest method of art craft. The economics of ink jet printing are the main driver of digital printing technique. The costs of ink jet printing are lower for short run lengths than in traditional screen printing. This switches for longer runs production. Short-run textile printing commissions are the main source of jobs for small to medium scale textile producers in Ghana. And manual screen printing is the main process employed by these small-scale textile printers. These layers of limitations negatively affect the overall outcome of the prints. This is because, the large-scale textile factories in Ghana can print a minimum of 2400 yards due to their machine settings, calibration and running cost to make the least returns. KEYWORDS: Hand block printing, natural dyes, screen printing, techniques, digital printing.

Powder bed fusion of solid and permeable Crofer 22 APU parts for applications in chemical process engineering

AbstractAdditive manufacturing of metals has attracted significant attention across various industries. However, its adoption in certain chemical and energy sectors remains constrained by the absence of optimized alloys tailored for high temperatures and corrosive environments. This study explores the laser-based powder bed fusion processing of Crofer 22 APU, a high-temperature, corrosion-resistant alloy ideal for applications such as methane steam reforming reactors, high-temperature fuel cells, and palladium membrane supports. Systematic optimization of laser parameters including laser power, hatch distance, point distance, and building angles was conducted for both dense and porous objects. Dense parts achieved a relative density of 0.9999 and surface roughness of Sa= 41.27±1.48 on a 45$$^\circ$$ ∘ overhang. Porous samples showed a porosity range of 28.655.5% and surface roughness Sa 22.2 $$\upmu$$ μ m to 45.9 $$\upmu$$ μ m as hatch distance increased from 0.12 mm to 0.16 mm. Additionally, an 8YSZ coating applied via screen printing demonstrated the impact of hatch distance and laser power on surface quality. The combination of additive manufacturing of Crofer 22 APU and screen printing of 8YSZ simplifies the preparation of metallic supports for Pd-based membranes, reducing fabrication time and cost by shortening the number of preparation steps. This technique offers a promising approach for scaling up membranes and membrane reactors.

Characterization of Silver Conductive Ink Screen-Printed Textile Circuits: Effects of Substrate, Mesh Density, and Overprinting

This study explores the intricate interaction between the properties of textile substrates and screen-printing parameters in shaping fabric circuits using silver conductive ink. Via analyzing key variables such as fabric type, mesh density, and the number of overprinted layers, the research revealed how the porous structure, large surface area, and fiber morphology of textile substrates influence ink absorption, ultimately enhancing the electrical connectivity of the printed circuits. Notably, the hydrophilic cotton staple fibers fabric effectively absorbed the conductive ink into the fabric substrate, demonstrating superior electrical performance compared with the hydrophobic polyester filament fabric after three overprinting, unlike the results observed after a single print. As mesh density decreased and the number of prints increased, the electrical resistance of the circuit gradually reduced, but ink bleeding on the fabric surface became more pronounced. Cotton fabric, via absorbing the ink deeply, exhibited less surface bleeding, while polyester fabric showed more noticeable ink spreading. These findings provide valuable insights for improving screen printing technology for textile circuits and contribute to the development of advanced fabric circuits that enhance the functionality of smart wearable technology.

Hybrid Screen Printable Electrolyte for Large‐Scale Flexible Electrochromic Display Production

AbstractThis study presents the development of a novel screen printable quasi‐solid polymer electrolyte (p‐QSPE) for Electrochromic Displays (ECDs) applications. p‐QSPE is composed of three key components: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a high‐dielectric constant polymer that ensures high ionic conductivity in solid‐state; glyceril propoxy triacrylate (GPTA), a UV‐cross‐linkable monomer that provides structure and durability for overprinting; titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles, which modulate the electrolyte's rheological properties for screen printing; reducing the solvent (PC:EC) content to only 35.90 wt.%. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that this well‐designed formulation achieved an ionic conductivity of 1.17 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature, surpassing the threshold required for commercial applications. Moreover, p‐QSPE facilitated the production of fully screen printed ECDs in an industrial printing line, streamlining their production process and achieving an optimal balance between printability, overprint resilience, and device performance. Operational tests for the ECDs showed fast switching times (<6 s for t90 and <2 s for t75) across a wide temperature range (−20 °C to 80 °C). Additionally, the electrolyte demonstrated low charge consumption (2.10 ± 0.11 mC cm−2) and a lifespan exceeding 10 000 cycles. These results highlight the potential of p‐QSPE as a screen printable, high‐performance electrolyte, capable of advancing ECD manufacturing by enabling the production of fully screen‐printed, performing ECDs.

Strategy for co-enhancement of interface adhesion and coercivity of Nd-Fe-B grain boundary diffusion magnet: TbH3 nanopowders used in screen printing

Screen printing technology (SPT) was applied to conduct grain boundary diffusion sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets using TbH3 and TbF3 nanopowders as diffusion sources. TbH3 grain boundary diffusion (HGBD) coating had better adhesion to the magnet surface than TbF3 grain boundary diffusion (FGBD) coating. When the weight gain ratio was 1.0 wt%, the HGBD magnet achieved a coercivity increment of 11.07 kOe under non-pressurized heat treatment, while effectively controlling the magnet’s residual C and O elements. However, pressure heat treatment was necessary for the FGBD magnet to improve the coercivity due to the poor adhesion between the coating and the magnet surface, resulting in more residual C and O elements inside the magnet. Moreover, the coercivity of the FGBD magnet only increased by 7.96 kOe. Compared to the FGBD magnet, Tb diffused deeper into the HGBD magnet and formed more (Nd, Tb)2Fe14B-Nd2Fe14B core–shell structures. The formation of core–shell structures greatly enhanced the nucleation field of the reverse domain, thereby increasing the coercivity. Hence, the HGBD magnet had a higher coercivity increment. In addition, the HGBD magnet possessed better coercivity temperature stability than the original and FGBD magnets. Using TbH3 nanopowders as a diffusion source for SPT can achieve higher magnetic properties and simplified processes without pressure.

Preparation of the scattering layer based on SnO2 nanocrystals for dye sensitized solar cell application

Abstract In this work, SnO2 paste was prepared based on (0.1 and 0.12 g) of SnO2 nanoparticles. The SnO2 film was deposited using Screen printing and doctor blade techniques, which it employed as scattering layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). The crystal structure, morphology, and thermal stability of the paste were investigated using XRD, FE-SEM, and TGA techniques. The DSSC parameters were achieved to examining the effect of scattering layer on performance of DSSC. The results showed a crystalline structure predominantly composed of rutile SnO2 crystals arranged in a tetragonal pattern, with individual crystallites measuring approximately 100 nanometers in size. SEM images depicted the surface of SnO2 resembling a sponge with fine pores facilitating dye adsorption and electron mobility. Moreover, a decrease in average particle size was observed with increasing dye concentration, with the average grain size of SnO2 particles being below 100 nanometers at lower dye concentrations. TGA measurements indicated a phase transition occurring around 400 °C.

A Review on Preparation of Palladium Oxide Films

Fabrication aspects of PdO thin films and coatings are reviewed here. The work provides and organizes the up-to-date information on the methods to obtain the films. In recent years, the interest in Pd oxide for different applications has increased. Since Pd can be converted into PdO, it is instructive to pay attention to the preparation of the pure and the alloyed Pd films, heterostructures, and nanoparticles synthesized on different substrates. The development of PdO films is presented from the early reports on coatings’ formation by oxidation of Pd foils and wires to present technologies. Modern synthesis/growth routes are gathered into chemical and physical categories. Chemical methods include hydrothermal, electrochemical, electroless deposition, and coating methods, such as impregnation, precipitation, screen printing, ink jet printing, spin or dip coating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and atomic layer deposition (ALD), while the physical ones include sputtering and cathodic arc deposition, laser ablation, ion or electron beam-induced deposition, evaporation, and supersonic cluster beam deposition. Analysis of publications indicates that many as-deposited Pd or Pd-oxide films are granular, with a high variety of morphologies and properties targeting very different applications, and they are grown on different substrates. We note that a comparative assessment of the challenges and quality among different films for a specific application is generally missing and, in some cases, it is difficult to make a distinction between a film and a randomly oriented, powder-like (granular), thin compact material. Textured or epitaxial films of Pd or PdO are rare and, if orientation is observed, in most cases, it is obtained accidentally. Some practical details and challenges of Pd oxidation toward PdO and some specific issues concerning application of films are also presented.

A novel colored chitosan-modified polystyrene composite dye nanospheres with enhanced coloring properties for binder-free printing

The limited utilization rate of dyes for coloring coupled with the consumption of large quantities of chemical reagents, can result in acute environmental pollution and waste of resources. Herein, in accordance with the electrostatic attraction between electropositivity of chitosan and anionic dyes, a novel type of chitosan-modified cationic polystyrene nanospheres (PSCS) was creatively synthesized, which can be innovatively employed as a special carrier with an adsorption capacity of up to 197.4mg/g for acid dyes. Consequently, a exclusive pigment identified as colored chitosan-modified polystyrene composite dye nanospheres (PSCS(AR9)) was procured. Simultaneously, the binder-free printing was accomplished by leveraging the intrinsic self-curing property of PSCS(AR9) for screen printing of textiles. Additionally, printed fabrics with PSCS(AR9) exhibited superb darkening effect (the K/S value can be increased by 2 times.) in conjunction with significantly improved hand feel in contrast with the conventional printed fabrics. The last but not least, the rubbing fastness of the printed fabrics using PSCS(AR9) can meet demand of the practical application. Therefore, this work may provide an innovative insight for constructing a new type of environmentally friendly and depth-enhanced printed textile.

Towards mass-production of ion-selective electrodes by spotting: Optimization of membrane composition and real-time tracking of membrane drying

Solid-contact ion-selective electrodes present tools for rapid assessment of charged species within a vast number of samples. Commercially available point-of-care electrochemical sensing systems are most often produced by screen-printing. However, this method is not applicable to polymeric membrane deposition, due to the mismatch of the membrane physical characteristics to those intended for screen printing. Herein, an industrial automated dispensing machine was used for fast and controlled deposition of small volumes of ion-selective membrane. Compared to the previously published literature, the dry solute membrane content was not altered. Rather, we optimized the solvents for the ISM preparation, thus significantly lowering the required overall number of membrane deposition steps. It was shown that dry membrane uniformity strongly depends on the solvent carrier system, with the best uniformity for the membrane prepared in a solvent mixture consisting of equal volumes of THF and cyclohexanone. The volume of a single membrane deposit (spot) was estimated based on colorimetric absorbance measurements to be 0.20 μL. Already with a single spot of the ion-selective membrane, an adequate potentiometric response to potassium ions was obtained, supporting the efficiency of the production technique. Evaporative membrane drying was investigated for the first time using time-resolved impedance spectroscopy, giving useful information on the influence of the solvent composition to the characteristics of the evaporative time profiles. With this approach, the overall production and drying of the described devices takes less than 30 min.