Eloi Ramon; Francesc Vila; Elkin Gonzalo Diaz; Jofre Pallarčs, Lluís Terés; Jordi Carrabina


Abstract
Our main goal is to propose methodologies & tools for designing and printing electronic devices using inkjet printing technology. Printed-electronics emerging technologies are far from being mature enough; thus, lots of efforts have to be done to reach stable working technologies. In these sense current developments requires in depth knowledge about related inkjet printing machinery, functional inks, substrates and their interactions.

In this work we discuss the benefit of developing fabrication technology and a design methodology together with a set of tools for building reliable and precise inkjet printed flexible and organic systems. Different printed devices and test structures has been studied and analyzed. Printed passive and active components are crucial for the development of low cost, flexible and printed systems.

Regarding the design methodology and related flows and tools we have also studied and defined how to move the well-known Technology & Design Kit (TDK) concept from silicon based to printed based microelectronics. Once the design flow has been identified we are selecting CAD tools and developing the TDK concept. Specific backend tools to transfer the design resulting drawings or layouts into the specific technology set (printer+inks+substrates) have been developed to make specific technology compensations and adjustments.


Keywords: FOLAE, EDA Tools, IJPE, Technology & Design Kit, Electronic Devices Characterization
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Marta Klanjšek Gunde, Marijan Ma?ek, Maša Žvegli?, Tadeja Muck, Tjaša Vidmar, Janja Plevnjak, Nina Hauptman, Raša Urbas, Gorazd Golob, Marica Starešini?

Abstract
Flat-plate capacitors were screen-printed on two paper substrates, the one which is used for conventional printing and another one with nanoporous hydrophilic coating which was developed for printed electronics applications. The thermally drying silver-based electrically conductive ink was applied for conductive plates and the UV-curable dielectric ink for the interlayer. The capacitors were printed in three sizes with single- and double-printed dielectric layer. The conditions for good print- and electrical quality were determined other than those recommended by the producer. The print quality of the top electrode and of the entire final product depends on the UV curing energy applied for dielectric layer. The effect is more pronounced when the capacitors were printed on conventional paper and less on the more smooth paper dedicated for printed electronics. The serial capacity of printed capacitors with double-printed dielectric layers appears to be independent on UV curing dose. However, the print quality of corresponding structures retains almost all dependence observed in structures with single-printed dielectric.

Keywords: printed electronics, conductive ink, dielectric ink, ultraviolet curing, capacitor
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Chloé Bois, Anne Blayo, Rémi Vincent, Christine Nayoze, Didier Chaussy


Abstract
Optical techniques of printing characterisations are tested to be implemented as a characterisation of functional layers, referred to as catalyst layers, where electrochemical reactions take place in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. While optical density techniques poorly discriminated the types of ink used and the ink loading transferred by superimposition of 1 to 5 layers, reflectance spectra measurements succeed in differentiating (i) inks formulated with carbon adsorbed platinum or carbon powder without platinum and (ii) ink loadings higher than 0.062 mg.cm-2. In addition, printing defects of marbling and lacks of ink can also be evaluated by reflectance measurements. Owing to its validation as a characterisation technique, it is successfully used to evaluate the ability of platinum-free ink layers to cover three ink layers with platinum.  Confirmed by SEM observation, the reflectance does not highlight mixing phenomena between layers during their manufacturing by superimposition. However, it confirms the presence of printing defects on ink layers with a low ink loading.


Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cell, flexography, catalyst layer, spectrophotometric characterisation
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