Ink‐Based Additive Nanomanufacturing of Functional Materials for Human‐Integrated Smart Wearables

Abstract

The economical, agile, customizable manufacturing, and integration of multifunctional device modules into networked systems with mechanical compliance and robustness enable unprecedented human‐integrated smart wearables and usher in exciting opportunities in emerging technologies. The additive manufacturing (AM) processes have emerged as potential candidates for rapid prototyping printed devices with diversified functionalities, e.g., energy harvesting/storage, sensing, actuation, and computation. However, there are few review reports about the ink‐based additive nanomanufacturing of functional materials for human‐integrated smart wearables. To fill this gap, herein, the recent progress in ink‐based additive nanomanufacturing technologies, focusing on their capability and potential for producing wearable human‐integrated devices, is reviewed. The manufacturing process integration, functional materials, device implementation, and application performance issues in designing and implementing the ink‐based additively nanomanufactured wearable systems are thoroughly discussed. The recent printed devices focusing on the processing conditions and performance metrics are comprehensively reviewed. Finally, the vision and outlook for the challenges and opportunities associated with related topics are provided. The rapid progress achieved in related disciplines enables more capable smart human‐integrated wearable systems that can be fully printed with rapid, agile, reconfigurable, and smart AM platforms.