3D printing has revolutionised the manufacturing industry, but it has its own limitations. A team of scientists has now developed a new procedure that can be used to micro-print materials with greater accuracy than ever before. The procedure, called “direct-write assembly,” is based on a process called electrowetting. In this process, an electrical field is applied to a substrate, causing tiny droplets of liquid to form. These droplets can then be used to build complex structures, with features that are as small as 200 nanometers. The team has also developed a computer algorithm that can be used to precisely control the droplets, allowing for the creation of intricate structures. The new technique has the potential to be used to create a variety of materials, from microelectronics to medical implants.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org