A printer includes a nozzle from which a stream of printing fluid is electrostatically extracted and directed toward a printing surface. A diverter can selectively interrupt the stream of printing fluid so that at least some of the extracted printing fluid is not deposited on the printing surface. Another stream of printing fluid can be extracted from another nozzle in a different direction from the first. Respective diverters can selectively and independently interrupt each stream of printing fluid to control which portions of the extracted fluids are deposited over the printing surface. Diverted printing fluid can be collected and reused. The diverters allow for a more constant or uniform extraction field while permitting selective deposition of ink droplets similar to drop-on-demand printing schemes.

A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

An arrayed electrohydrodynamic printhead without the extraction electrodes is provided. A printhead is formed by an ink cartridge, a flow channel plate, a nozzle plate, a control electrode layer. The ink cartridge includes an ink inlet, an ink outlet, an installation hole, a flow channel layer inlet, flow channel layer outlet. The flow channel plate has the functions of guiding the ink to flow into the nozzle plate and increasing the potential difference between the nozzles, and includes a flow channel inlet, a flow channel outlet, a drainage channel, and a microfluidic channel. A body of the nozzle plate includes nozzles and nozzle electrodes. The microfluidic channel forms a voltage division unit between each nozzle, so that the voltage on the triggered nozzle is dispersed in the flow channel without affecting other nozzles, and independent and controllable injection of each nozzle is thereby achieved.

An arrayed electrohydrodynamic printhead without the extraction electrodes is provided. A printhead is formed by an ink cartridge, a flow channel plate, a nozzle plate, a control electrode layer. The ink cartridge includes an ink inlet, an ink outlet, an installation hole, a flow channel layer inlet, flow channel layer outlet. The flow channel plate has the functions of guiding the ink to flow into the nozzle plate and increasing the potential difference between the nozzles, and includes a flow channel inlet, a flow channel outlet, a drainage channel, and a microfluidic channel. A body of the nozzle plate includes nozzles and nozzle electrodes. The microfluidic channel forms a voltage division unit between each nozzle, so that the voltage on the triggered nozzle is dispersed in the flow channel without affecting other nozzles, and independent and controllable injection of each nozzle is thereby achieved.

An electroprinting system having a voltage generator that produces a signal, a drop-on-demand (DOD) droplet generator actuated by the signal of the voltage generator, the drop generator having a wire for submersion into a viscous fluid, a power supply connected to the wire for supplying current to the DOD droplet generator, and a grounded collector for collection of the droplet generated by the DOD droplet generator. The drop-on-demand (DOD) droplet generator has a wire for plunging or threading through a meniscus of a viscous fluid, and an applied electrical potential to form a droplet from the viscous fluid. A method of electroprinting of a viscous fluid is also provided.

A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.

A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.

A device comprising a supply, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The supply is to supply a metallized, non-absorptive media along a travel path, which is electrically connectable to a ground element, the metallized media to carry a first polymer structure. The first portion along the travel path is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid on the first polymer structure on the media to form an image. The second portion is to apply an adhesion-promoting surface treatment, onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure, comprising UV ozone, plasma, or chemical additive. The third portion is to apply, via heat and pressure, a second polymer structure onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure to produce a media assembly.

A device comprising a supply, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The supply is to supply a metallized, non-absorptive media along a travel path, which is electrically connectable to a ground element, the metallized media to carry a first polymer structure. The first portion along the travel path is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid on the first polymer structure on the media to form an image. The second portion is to apply an adhesion-promoting surface treatment, onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure, comprising UV ozone, plasma, or chemical additive. The third portion is to apply, via heat and pressure, a second polymer structure onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure to produce a media assembly.

The print head includes a nozzle layer with a plurality of nozzles for printing ink onto a target. It further includes ventilation openings including blow openings for feeding a gas to the region between the nozzles and the target as well as suction openings for feeding gas away from this region. This allows maintaining a desired atmosphere at the region in order to better control the printing process.