3D Printers Are Building Working Circuit Boards

New Method 3D Prints Fully Functional Electronic Circuits

What it is: At the University of Nottingham, researchers have devised a method for rapidly printing fully functional electronic circuits. The team discovered that UV light could be used to evaporate solvents in a silver nanoparticle conductive ink, enabling the fabrication of devices like antennae or solar storage cells at the rate of roughly one layer per minute. Earlier methods required heating the ink in an oven, layer by layer, which is impractical for devices that might require several hundred layers.

Why it's important: While we aren’t currently able to print integrated circuits this way, we are discovering new methods of turning liquids, inks, and powders into 3D physical devices without massive amounts of energy or time. Look for startups and large corporations alike to incorporate these methods into their design and supply chains. 

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Marissa Brassfield  / Abundance Insider