Beyond Solution-Based Printing: Unveiling Innovations and Advancements in Solvent-Free Printing Technologies

Abstract

Vapor printing technologies are emerging as powerful tools for device fabrication due to their unique solvent-free nature. In recent years, a few articles have been published to investigate these printing technologies for applications such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), circuits, sensors, photodetectors, and drug screening. These printing technologies are physical vapor printing methods based on ablation, evaporation, and condensation. In this perspective, the advancement of vapor printing technologies is highlighted and introduce an additional approach enabling the chemistry of molecular precursors to be fully exploited dynamically. These additional concepts of vapor printing are introduced from the perspective of the printer's design and the development of process strategies with supporting original data. Furthermore, potential applications, challenges, and outlook are discussed. Specifically, this outlook appeals to researchers involved in nanostructured materials, semiconductors, catalysts, alloys, metals, polymers, functionally gradient materials, multi-material structures, and additive manufacturing (AM) from academia and industries alike.