3D tribo-nanoprinting using triboreactive materials

Tribology: the science of friction, wear and lubrication has never been associated in a positive way with the ability to manufacture at the nanoscale. Triboreactivity, when the contact between two surfaces promotes a chemical reaction, has been harnessed in this study to create highly tenacious nano-features. The reported 3D tribo-nanoprinting methodology has been demonstrated for organic and inorganic fluids on steel and silicon substrates and is adaptable through the interface tribology. The growth rate, composition and shape of the printed features were all found to be dependent on the nature of the printing liquid and shearing interfaces in addition to the applied temperature and contact force. The reported methodology in this study opens unprecedented future possibilities to utilize the nanoprinted films for the expanding fields of microelectronics, medical devices, flexible electronics and sensor technologies.