Work

3D Printing of Deformable Multicolor Alternating‐Current Electroluminescent Devices Through Rational Design of Functional Inks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The development of flexible and customizable electroluminescent devices represents a significant challenge in advanced manufacturing. This paper introduces a novel approach for fabricating highly deformable, fully 3D‐printed alternating‐current electroluminescent devices through the rational design of UV‐curable functional inks. The devices feature a unique multilayer structure including a UV‐curable thiol‐ene crosslinked emission layer (ZBS‐t‐SE) and temperature‐responsive ionic hydrogel electrodes (FFP). The ZBS‐t‐SE demonstrates exceptional mechanical properties, with a strain of 259% at 727 kPa, whereas the FFP electrodes exhibit excellent printability through controlled micelle formation, high ionic conductivity (2.5 × 10⁻ 2 S cm −1 ), and stable performance under repeated deformation (>3000 cycles at 200% strain). The optimized devices maintain stable operation under various deformation modes, including stretching, bending, and twisting, achieving a maximum luminance of 267.4 cd m − 2 at 200% strain. Furthermore, the 3D printing approach enables the fabrication of complex 3D structures with multi‐color emission through precise spatial control of functional materials, presenting a transformative strategy for next‐generation flexible electronics and display technologies.

Source: Small

DOI: 10.1002/smll.202502435

Authors: Jeongbin Park, Shakti Singh, Jinhwan Yoon

Institutions: Pusan National University, University of Seoul

Language: English

Topic: Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,790

Funders: National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea