Submicron Metal 3D Printing by Ultrafast Laser Heating and Induced Ligand Transformation of Nanocrystals

Ligand Decomposition Differences during Thermal Sintering of Oleylamine-Capped Gold Nanoparticles in Ambient and Inert Environments: Implications for Conductive Inks

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are essential in creating conductive inks vital for advancing printable electronics, sensing technologies, catalysis, and plasmonics. A crucial step in fabricating useful GNP-based devices is understanding the thermal sintering process and particularly the decomposition pathways of ligands in different environments. This study addresses a gap in the existing research by examining the sintering of oleylamine (OA)-capped GNPs in both ambient (air) and inert (N2) environments. Through a series of analyses including TGA/MS, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS, distinctive OA decomposition behaviors were identified in air and nitrogen environments. The research delineates two OA decomposition pathways resulting in different porosity, microstructure, and electrical conductivity of GNP films sintered in air and nitrogen environments. The study offers some insights that can steer the sintering and utilization of the GNP sintering process and promises to aid the future development of nanoparticle-based printable electronics.

Direct Writing of Functional Layer by Selective Laser Sintering of Nanoparticles for Emerging Applications: A Review

Selective laser sintering of nanoparticles enables the direct and rapid formation of a functional layer even on heat-sensitive flexible and stretchable substrates, and is rising as a pioneering fabrication technology for future-oriented applications. To date, laser sintering has been successfully applied to various target nanomaterials including a wide range of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, and extensive investigation of relevant experimental schemes have not only reduced the minimum feature size but also have further expanded the scalability of the process. In the beginning, the selective laser sintering process was regarded as an alternative method to conventional manufacturing processes, but recent studies have shown that the unique characteristics of the laser-sintered layer may improve device performance or even enable novel functionalities which were not achievable using conventional fabrication techniques. In this regard, we summarize the current developmental status of the selective laser sintering technique for nanoparticles, affording special attention to recent emerging applications that adopt the laser sintering scheme.

Detecting spatial chirp signals by Luneburg lens based transformation medium

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens-based chirp signal chirpiness detection usually relies on the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) functionality of a quadratic GRIN lens and is limited by paraxial conditions. In this paper, a non-FRFT mechanism-based chirpiness detection GRIN lens is proposed that converts the Luneburg lens' focus capacity of input plane waves to the designed lens' focusing of input chirp waves using transformation optics, and the source chirpiness can be obtained by sweeping the illumination wavelength rather than locating the focusing pulse, consequently greatly increasing the upper limit of the chirpiness detection range. The feasibility and robustness of the method are verified through numerical simulations.