3D printed electronics

Finished: 2022-01-31

MSc assignment

Modern 3D printers can print insulating materials, but also metals. This new technology makes it possible to print an electronic circuit consisting of resistors, capacitors and inductors. In this assignment, I will study what is already done in this area (studying scientific literature and prior work in the RAM and IDS groups), make prototypes of resistors, capacitors and inductors to test their properties and make and test prototypes of passive (LCR) circuits. The properties of these components and networks are compared to models. Furthermore, the printing of these elements on top of integrated circuits (chips) is pursued, and the possibility to make electrical contact with the chip investigated. An ohmic contact with low resistivity and good reproducibility is needed, and this will require quite some experimentation and thorough characterization.

The nature of 3D printing makes the resistivity of metals anisotropic, vertical current flow is typically hampered by oxidised interfaces between the consecutive layers, while horizontal current flow experiences less resistance (but perhaps different in the x and y-direction due to the scanning technique). Characterizing and understanding this anisotropy can be useful to model the devices properly and also to benefit more from the possibilities of 30 printing.

I will make use of commercial software tools such as C0MS0L, existing 30 printers at the UT, and de-IV measurement tools..