Critical Size/Viscosity for Coffee-Ring-Free Printing of Perovskite Micro/Nanopatterns
Guannan Zhang, Hanyuan Zhang, Rui Yu, Yongqing Duan, YongAn Huang, Zhouping Yin
Abstract
Inkjet printing is the most encouraging method for patterning and integrating perovskite materials into microminiature application scenarios. However, it is still challenging to achieve high-resolution, coffee-ring-free, and perfect crystallized patterns. Here, a strategy based on powerful electrohydrodynamic printing and droplet viscosity-size coordinate regulation is developed to solve the above problems. By adding a long-chain polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) into perovskite precursor to tune ink viscosity and introducing electrohydrodynamic printing to print the high-viscosity ink into droplets of different sizes, we can manipulate the inside flowing resistance and outside evaporation rate of a droplet, thus revealing a critical size/viscosity under which the coffee ring effect is inhibited, showing immense potential and significance for high-quality patterning. In addition, the long-chain polymer benefits droplet spatial limitation and uniform crystallization. The as-printed luminous patterns demonstrate high resolution (structure size ∼1 μm), excellent brightness, pleasant uniformity, and fascinating compatibility with flexible substrates, which is promising for future perovskite optoelectronic device applications.