Formation and Elimination of Satellite Droplets during Monodisperse Droplet Generation by Using Piezoelectric Method

Inkjet printing quality improvement research progress: A review

Inkjet printing is a prevalent printing technology that finds extensive applications in diverse fields, including mechanical manufacturing and flexible electronics. Enhancing the quality of inkjet printing has consistently piqued significant interest, with the goal of attaining superior printing resolution, precise color reproduction, and finer image details. This article begins with an overview of the current advancements in inkjet printing, elaborating on four key principles and technologies of inkjet printing. Subsequently, the article delves into the application and research progress related to enhancing inkjet printing quality across various fields. This exploration is structured around four perspectives: printing equipment, substrates, ink properties, and emerging printing technologies. Significant enhancements in inkjet printing quality, resulting in improved image details and color reproduction effects, can be attained by optimizing ink formulations, refining inkjet head design, and selecting suitable substrates and surface treatment methods. To conclude, this article addresses and summarizes future technological advancements aimed at enhancing inkjet printing quality.

Control strategy and mechanism for satellite droplet reduction

Satellite droplets accompanying the formation of monodispersed particles have serious negative effects in the fields of medicine and food, especially in pill preparation. Therefore, it is of great significance to study control strategy and mechanism for satellite droplet reduction. This paper proposes a simple and efficient device, Drainage Assisted Dropper (DAD), which adds a stainless-steel needle to the center of General Dropper (GD). Experimental and numerical results show the number and volume of satellite droplets of the dripping formed by DAD are significantly reduced compared to those formed by GD. DAD can reduce the liquid volume of satellite droplets with a reduction rate of 87 %, while reducing the size of the primary droplet and increasing the interval between the adjacent primary droplets. Compared with GD, DAD has a smaller cross-sectional area and a larger wetted area, which results in a smaller downward velocity of the liquid. The drainage assisted needle of DAD changes the dripping flow pattern at the outlet of the dropper near the breaking time, causing the residual liquid to be subjected to a higher additional pressure. Less liquid is replenished to the filament, resulting in the filament with a shorter length and a smaller liquid volume. DAD proposed here has a clear development potential and application value in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Editorial for the Special Issue on Heat and Mass Transfer in Micro/Nanosystems

The miniaturization of components in mechanical and electronic equipment has been the driving force for the fast development of micro/nanosystems [...]

Suppression and Utilization of Satellite Droplets for Inkjet Printing: A Review

Inkjet printing, initially invented for text and pattern printing, has been extensively used to fabricate electronic, mechanical, and even biological devices. Numerous reviews focused on the mechanisms, development, and application of inkjet printing have been published in recent years. However, a small review has focused on the satellite droplets during inkjet printing. Satellite droplets have long been recognized as an undesirable byproduct in the inkjet community since they potentially blur the printing patterns, polluting the printer and the air. Numerous efforts have been made to avoid or suppress the generation of satellite droplets since the inkjet’s birth. However, recent studies demonstrated the delicately utilizing of the satellite for realizing extremely high printing resolution otherwise impossible for the traditional inkjet printing. In this review, we focus on the formation mechanisms of satellites, efforts made to suppress satellites, and techniques developed to utilize satellites, distinguishing them from the existing inkjet printing reviews.