
Inkjet printing is widely used due to its high precision in depositing ink at specific locations. However, it is limited to low-viscosity inks below 20 cP, restricting its compatibility with various functional materials. In contrast, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing allows jetting of inks with viscosities above 50 cP, but its short working distance (≤100 μm) and low throughput hinder large-scale application. To overcome these limitations, we have developed an innovative hybrid inkjet printhead that integrates the benefits of both conventional piezoelectric and EHD printing mechanisms. Utilizing this advanced system, we conducted experiments on the ejection of 200 cP viscosity inks, a feat challenging for conventional piezoelectric-actuated systems. The proposed hybrid inkjet printhead equipped with both piezoelectric actuators and EHD electrode to achieve a synergistic effect combining mechanical and electrical forces. The hybrid inkjet printhead enables stable ejection of high-viscosity inks (≤200cP) through 16 nozzles and 100 npi simultaneously. Also, this hybrid inkjet printhead can eject droplet volume range between 10 and 12 pL at a working distance exceeding 1 mm. Therefore, the ability to eject from multiple nozzles and high viscous ink concurrently enhances productivity, expanding the potential for applications across various industrial sectors.
Eunyoung Lee, Inho Na, Jongphil Choi, Youngjoon Han, Youngjun Jo, Chaerim Park, Juhyeon Park, Jaewoo Joung, Hyungdong Lee, Jaeyong Choi, "Development of a Multi-nozzle Hybrid Inkjet Printhead Enabling Droplet Ejection up to 200 cP Using Piezoelectric-Electrohydrodynamic Mechanism" in IS&T International Conference on Special Topics , 2025, pp 28 - 31, https://doi.org/10.2352/APT.2025.1.1.9