About the Printed electronics and materials laboratory
This research laboratory produces novel thick-film electronic sensors, actuators, circuits and systems. They are printed with a silk screen or inkjet printer on a variety of surfaces using commercial and in-house inks and pastes. We can also develop our own electrically active inks and pastes, and analyse their properties.
The printed devices created here include:
- micropumps
- heaters
- multi-layer flexible printed circuit boards
- accelerometers
- gas and liquid sensors
- electroluminescent displays
- pressure sensors and energy harvesters
A bead mill is used to make our own printed electrically active materials. We use materials analysis tools to study the effects of particle size and distribution on electrical performance.
Working with industry
Our industry partners collaborate on a range of projects using this laboratory. Our spin-out company Smart Fabric Inks offers a complete platform technology for electronic textiles. We have a wide portfolio of functional materials along with the expertise to develop new solutions.
