Work

Physics-informed displacement control for variable pattern printing with V-shaped PDMS stamps in roll-to-roll microcontact printing

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Roll-to-roll microcontact printing enables high-throughput production of flexible electronic devices by continuously transferring inks onto substrates via polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps. Traditional rectangular or cylindrical PDMS stamps yield uniform pattern sizes, limiting manufacturing versatility. This study introduces V-shaped PDMS stamps for variable pattern printing using a single stamp geometry. A physics-based deformation model was developed by combining finite element simulations and experiments to characterize the out-of-plane behavior of V-shaped PDMS under displacement. Leveraging this model, we implemented a neural network-based Model Predictive Control (MPC) system to precisely regulate vertical displacement and achieve desired pattern dimensions. Experimental results demonstrate that a single V-shaped PDMS stamp can reliably produce variable pattern sizes with high repeatability, significantly improving the adaptability and process efficiency of microcontact printing for flexible electronics manufacturing.

Source: Communications Engineering

DOI: 10.1038/s44172-025-00553-9

Authors: Jingyang Yan, Huarui Du, Xian Du

Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Language: English

Topic: Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,190