Direct laser printing of thin-film polyaniline devices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel laser printing technique to create electrically functional polyaniline thin-film devices with controlled morphology and sharp features, suitable for electroactive applications like gas sensing.

Contribution

It introduces a direct laser printing method for polyaniline thin films, enabling precise patterning and functional device fabrication.

Findings

Laser printing preserves film morphology and sharp features.

Printed polyaniline exhibits ohmic electrical behavior.

Devices show potential for ammonia gas sensing.

Abstract

We report the fabrication of electrically functional polyaniline thin-film microdevices. Polyaniline films were printed in the solid phase by Laser Induced Forward Transfer directly between Au electrodes on a Si/SiO2 substrate. To apply solid-phase deposition, aniline was in situ polymerized on quartz substrates. Laser deposition preserves the morphology of the films and delivers sharp features with controllable dimensions. The electrical characteristics of printed polyaniline present ohmic behavior, allowing for electroactive applications. Results on gas sensing of ammonia are presented.