Materials Printer

The University of Groningen (hereinafter: the UG) intends to purchase a benchtop materials printer to support research and development activities within the BMBD laboratory. The system will be used as an in-house research platform by PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, academic staff and students for the development, fabrication and optimisation of printed functional devices and novel functional ink formulations. The printer will support research in flexible and wearable electronics, printed sensors, biomedical and health monitoring devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and other printed electronic technologies. The system is needed to establish a research platform capable of supporting the complete development cycle of functional inks and printed electronic devices, from materials development and process optimisation to device fabrication and validation. Research within the BMBD group requires highly reproducible deposition of extremely small material volumes, precise droplet placement, stable jetting behaviour and accurate layer-to-layer registration on rigid, flexible, textured and three-dimensional substrates. In addition, the research programme focuses on the development of novel conductive, dielectric and biocompatible ink formulations, requiring extensive optimisation of printing parameters and material behaviour. See the market consultation document for futher information.