Alternative Method of Electrospraying for Scalable Deposition of Nanomaterials

ORAL

Abstract

There is a great deal of interest in various room temperature methods for the deposition of nanomaterials. Among these, Electrospraying has, in the last decade, garnered attention due to its simplicity and versatility. In this method, a liquid droplet is subjected to a high voltage (kV range) such that charge density on the droplet dominates the surface tension, causing the droplet to breakdown. This interaction is repeated to produce micron size droplets until a Taylor cone or ``spray'' of droplets is formed that, in turn, can be deposited uniformly across a substrate. Electrospraying has been used for the deposition of polymers, metals and insulators alike, given the versatility of the method. However, this method is also limited due to scaling issues caused by complexities of the electric fields across multiple nozzles, as needed to create the spray itself. In this work, we investigate an alternative method by which to scale the electropsraying process using a free solution surface. Effects of parameters such as solution viscosity, distance between the solution and target, and voltage variations are investigated with respect to their effect on the final deposited film. Our results demonstrate that generation of the spray from the free surface removes several barriers to uniform deposition in comparison to other methods of coverage.

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Authors

  • Kalyan Kanakamedala

    Lousiana State University

  • Brad Cox

    North Carolnia State University, Vanderbilt University, University of South Carolina, University of Virginia, Francis Marion Univ, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Georgia College, JINR, Tsinghua University, LBNL, GANIL, Austin Peay State University, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universit\'e de Rennes, Austin Peay State University Department of Physics and Astronomy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN 37831, American Superconductor Corp., Westborough MA 01581, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega GA 30597, Florida State University, Ecole Polytechnique, Space Telescope Science Institute, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Austin Peay State Univerity, North Carolna State University, Florida Intl Univ, University of North Georgia, Clemson University, Clemson Univ, Vanderbilt University/ORNL, Vanderbilt University/Univ. of Kentucky, College of William and Mary, Louisiana State University, Presbyterian College, North Carolina State Univ, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Virginia Tech University, Hollins University, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Davidson College, University of Tennessee, American Superconductor Corporation, University of South Alabama, North Carolina State University, James Madison University, Lousiana State University, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon Korea