TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Georgia Tech inventors present a solid-state technology to electrodeposit layers of a metal compound at room temperature for building three-dimensional (3D) geometries. The demonstrated additive fabrication technology exhibits a dispenser-free nozzle as it operates in solid-state phase. Layers of copper are electrodeposited through a solid media on a conductive substrate and the printed pillar is imaged and its material composition characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy. Since no dispensing mechanism is required, the system complexity is reduced to a level that the use of micro-engineered nozzle in many multiples is possible for parallel 3D printing. Unlike the current metal, the new pump-less, solid-state nozzle exhibits a simple structure that can be employed in multiples to enable parallel printing for batch fabrication. This addresses the inherent challenges with additive fabrication for mass manufacturing and potentially expanding the capacity of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and high volume production. This development not only addresses metal 3D printing constrains but also enables scaling additive fabrication technology for mass manufacturing.

AREA/MATURITY/AWARDS

Primary Application Area: Materials, Chemical

Technology Development Status: Prototype

Technology Readiness Level: TRL 4

Vetted Programs/Awards: We have built a machine and prototyped a proof-of-concept. paper is accepted in Nature-Scientific Reports (we have not submitted the final version yet to the journal).

SHOWCASE SUMMARY

Organization Type: Academic/Gov Lab

Showcase Booth #: 127

GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES