Virtually probing “Faraday three-dimensional nanoprinting”

• Published in: Additive manufacturing 2021-12, Vol.48, p.102432, Article 102432
• Main Authors: Jung, Yoon-Ho, Pikhitsa, Peter V., Liu, Shirong, Jung, Wooik, Shin, Jooyeon, Liu, Bingyan, Han, Yaochen, Kim, Kwang-Yeong, Choi, Mansoo, Feng, Jicheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D nanoprinting; Charged aerosols; Electric field lines; Nano-dust cloud; Nanoparticles; Spark ablation
• ISSN: 2214-8604; 2214-7810
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2021.102432

Three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting is designed to harness properties such as size, geometry, material, and topology to obtain metamaterials for nano-photonics and nano-electronics with unique functionalities. Although previous works based on charged aerosols have printed various 3D nanostructures, understanding the additive process remains essentially unexplored. Here, we uncover the physics of 3D nanoprinting by observing anomalous nanoparticle structures originating from a floating layer of concentrated charged nanoparticles (named nano-dust cloud and being the source for additive manufacturing) over a charged surface. An analytical approach has been developed to extract essential printing parameters – the charge concentration of the floating layer and the charge density on the dielectric surface – from the experimental data of a designed virtual probe. Our work can provide new vistas for controlling and programming 3D nanoprinting via charged aerosols. [Display omitted] •An analytical approach explains how the electric fields are reconfigured to an electrical funnel.•The parameters of the Faraday 3D nanoprinting are revealed theoretically and experimentally.•The printed structures function as virtual probes for operando evaluation of the printing process.•Due to the ‘cushion’ field, nano-dust cloud is lifted above a dielectric surface.•The nano-dust cloud can be controlled to be present or not.