Conductive 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.

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.

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.

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 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.