MIPT Develops Ink-Free Microchip Printer
Researchers at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology have developed a dry aerosol printing system for microelectronics that eliminates the need for inks, solvents, or binding agents and is now moving toward mass production.
The printer forms microelectronic components from nanoparticles without using liquid inks, reducing contamination risks and lowering production costs compared with traditional photolithography.
According to researcher Vladislav Borisov, the method can be used to create passive microelectronic elements, plasmonic layers, microsensors, and catalytic structures.
Unlike conventional approaches, the system generates nanoparticles directly during the printing process. A focused gas flow deposits them onto a substrate, while a laser sinters the material. Conductors produced this way achieve conductivity close to that of silver crystals.
Traditional photolithography requires expensive cleanrooms, vacuum systems, and aggressive chemicals. The new printer avoids these constraints. The device has already passed state acceptance tests and is moving into serial production. Developers say the technology could significantly reduce the cost of electronics manufacturing and enable new applications, including microsensors, nanoantennas, and porous materials for gas sensing.
