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Tiny bubbles could revolutionize inkjet printing
Ultra-fine bubbles may offer a cleaner way to perfect inkjet printing for next-generation electronics. By simply changing the number of bubbles in each droplet, researchers were able to dramatically reshape the final printed pattern without leaving behind unwanted chemical residues.
The article mentions that these microbubbles can be "engineered to specific sizes and shapes" but doesn't explain how this precision is actually achieved in practice - are manufacturers using specialized equipment or new fabrication techniques that aren't mentioned? And does this mean we'll see these bubbles in commercial printers within the next few years, or is this still largely theoretical?
The article mentions that these bubbles are created using "ultrasonic waves" but doesn't explain how this actually improves print quality beyond the basic physics of how bubbles might help with ink flow. I'm curious whether this means the bubbles are just being used as a delivery mechanism, or if the actual bubble formation creates some sort of microstructure in the printed material itself that affects how the ink adheres to paper.