Conductive ink

A close-up view of functional circuits drawn onto a loofah, using the new ink in a ballpoint pen

Electronics

Scientists create a cheaper, better-flowing conductive pen ink

We've already heard about conductive inks that allow electrical circuits to be hand-drawn onto materials, using a ballpoint pen. Scientists have now developed a new such ink, which they claim is cheaper and more functional than others.

The sprayable antenna is made of MXene, a 2D titanium carbide material, which is extremely conductive and in tests performs as well as traditional antennas

Electronics

Sprayable antennas turn surfaces into ultra-thin, transparent transmitters

As crucial as antennas are, the rigid metals they’re made of can limit what devices they can be built into. To help with that, researchers at Drexel University have developed a new kind of antenna that can be sprayed onto just about any surface.

After 3 years in development, the Papier Machine project is ready to go from concept to production

Electronics

Learners encouraged to hit the books to uncover circuit secrets

Learning about electronics from a book might seem like a step backward in a world of instructional videos and snap together kits. But Paris-based startup Papier Machine doesn't think that at all, launching the first in a series of paper books containing circuit-building projects on Kickstarter.

Using simple re-purposed nylon filament, MIT researchers have created heat-activated artificial muscles

Science

Nylon thread made into artificial muscles

MIT researchers have created artificial muscles using simple re-purposed nylon filament. The new flexing material has potential in everything from robotics and artificial limbs to powered flexible components for use in the automobile and aviation industries.

Electronics

Magnetic ink brings printable and self-healing electronics together

Engineers from the University of California, San Diego have brought together a couple of nascent technologies that could result in inexpensive and long-lasting electronic devices. The team created a magnetic ink that can print a variety of self-healing components.

As the ink is being extruded, graphene flakes within it align as a single filament, preserving the electrochemical properties of the material

3D Printing

Wonder-ink could soon let you 3D print objects out of stretchy graphene

A new 3D-printing ink could soon make it possible to build objects made of graphene for 60 percent of their volume and 75 percent of their weight. This means that the electric and mechanical properties of graphene might soon find their way into all kinds of 3D-printed creations.

A new conductive ink can be applied to clothing and other textiles in a single-step printing process, thereby turning fabrics into sensors and wearable electronics

Wearables

New conductive ink makes your clothing smarter

A new conductive ink can be applied to clothing and other textiles in a single-step printing process, thereby turning everyday fabrics such as underwear and gym clothes into sensors and wearable electronics.

The Voltera V-One is designed to speed up and simplify the process of electronic circuit board prototyping

Electronics

V-One conductive ink printer aims to short-circuit electronic prototyping

The design and prototyping of printed electronic circuit boards has lagged behind the simple push-button approach used in 3D printing. To help remedy this, the Voltera V-One conductive ink printer promises to produce rapid, multi-layered boards simply and quickly, with the minimum of fuss.