A multi-scale E-jet 3D printing regulated by structured multi-physics field

Abstract Micro/nano scale structure as important functional part have been widely used in wearable flexible sensors, gas sensors, biological tissue engineering, microfluidic chips super capacitors and so on. Here a multi-scale electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) 3D printing approach regulated by structured multi-physics fields was demonstrated to generate 800 nm scale 2D geometries and high aspect ratio 3D structures. The simulation model of jetting process under resultant effect of top fluid field, middle electric field and bottom thermal field was established. And the physical mechanism and scale law of jet formation were studied. The effects of thermal field temperature, applied voltage and flow rate on the jet behaviors were studied; and the range of process parameters of stable jet was obtained. The regulation of printing parameters was used to manufacture the high resolution gradient graphics and the high aspect ratio structure with tight interlayer bonding. The structural features could be flexibly adjusted by reasonably matching the process parameters. Finally, polycaprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PCL/PVP) composite scaffolds with cell-scale fiber and ordered fiber spacing were printed. The proposed E-jet printing method provides an alternative approach for the application of biopolymer materials in tissue engineering.