Table 1.
Summary of nanomaterial fabrication methods with key advantages and limitations.
| Printing Method | Typical Min Resolution [µm] | Printing Speed [m/min] | Ink Viscosities [mPa.s] |
Ink Surface Tension [mN/m] |
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravure | 30 | 1–20 | 100–500 | 20–40 | High speed [40] Good reliability [27] Long production runs [27] |
High startup costs [27] Expensive prototyping [27] |
| Flexography | 30 | 1–20 | 50–500 | 10–30 | High Speed [41] Easier to prototype than gravure [29] |
High startup costs [29] Lower durability than gravure [41] |
| Screen | 50 | 0.1–15 | 500–10,000 | 35–50 | Inexpensive to prototype [42] Balance between speed, reliability, and cost [35] Simple process optimization [43] |
Limited resolution [24] Strict ink rheology requirements [44] |
| Inkjet | 30 | 0.01–15 | 1–20 | 10–30 | No additional cost to prototype [45] Excellent resolution and pattern control [46] |
Complicated to integrate with roll–to–roll systems Nozzle clogging [47] Coffee ring effect [48] |
| Slot die | 40 | 1–50 | 2–500 | – | Efficient and precise coating of homogeneous films [30] | Not suited for complex patterning [49] |