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Polymer-coated compliant receivers for intact laser-induced forward transfer of thin films: experimental results and modelling

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Abstract

In this study, we investigate both experimentally and numerically laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of thin films to determine the role of a thin polymer layer coating the receiver with the aim of modifying the rate of deceleration and reduction of material stress preventing intact material transfer. A numerical model of the impact phase during LIFT shows that such a layer reduces the modelled stress. The evolution of stress within the transferred deposit and the substrate as a function of the thickness of the polymer layer, the transfer velocity and the elastic properties of the polymer are evaluated. The functionality of the polymer layer is verified experimentally by LIFT printing intact 1- \(\upmu \)m-thick bismuth telluride films and polymeric light-emitting diode pads onto a layer of 12-\(\upmu \)m-thick polydimethylsiloxane and 50-nm-thick poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) blended with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), respectively. Furthermore, it is demonstrated experimentally that the introduction of such a compliant layer improves adhesion between the deposit and its substrate.

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Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union via the e-LIFT project (No. 247868-FP7-ICT-2009-4) and from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC) under Grant number EP/J008052/1 which is greatly acknowledged. We would also like to acknowledge Mark Spearing for discussion and feedback on COMSOL modelling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Matthias Feinaeugle, Peter Horak, Collin L. Sones & Rob W. Eason

  2. General Energy Research Department, Paul-Scherrer-Institut, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Thomas Lippert

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  1. Matthias Feinaeugle
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Correspondence to Matthias Feinaeugle.

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Feinaeugle, M., Horak, P., Sones, C.L. et al. Polymer-coated compliant receivers for intact laser-induced forward transfer of thin films: experimental results and modelling. Appl. Phys. A 116, 1939–1950 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-014-8360-0

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