System and method for laser induced forward transfer comprising a microfluidic chip print head with a renewable intermediate layer

• Main Authors: Eitan, Amos, Eisenbach, Ariel, Batt, Aryeh
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.03.2021
• Subjects: COLOUR PRINTING; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LINING MACHINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTING; PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; STAMPS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

Methods and systems for Laser-Induced Forward Transfer are disclosed in which a microfluidic chip is used as the printing head. The head comprises a transparent upper region, a middle region comprising an intermediate layer channel and an ink channel in fluid connection with said intermediate layer channel, and a lower layer with an orifice in fluid contact with the ink channel. When material in the intermediate layer channel is irradiated by an energy source (typically a pulsed laser) at a spot opposite the orifice, the material is partially evaporated, creating a vapor bubble that creates a transient pressure increase when it collapses, thereby forcing ink out of the orifice and onto a receiving substrate.