Deposition of nano-hydroxyapatite particles utilising direct and transitional electrohydrodynamic processes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrohydrodynamic spraying is established for biomedical material deposition, analysis, and synthesis.
• Electrohydrodynamic printing offers potential for biomedical and medical engineering applications through structured material formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the relationship and transition between electrohydrodynamic spraying and printing.
• To demonstrate the versatility of electrohydrodynamic processing for nano-material applications.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the effect of deposition distance on electrohydrodynamic spraying and printing outcomes.
• Analyzed transitional printing modes by varying applied voltage (0-4.5 kV) at an optimal printing distance (0.5 mm).

Main Results:

• Deposition distance dictates process outcome: spraying (>10 mm) or printing (<3 mm), with an intermediate range.
• Gradual voltage changes at 0.5 mm revealed distinct transitional printing modes: dripping, micro-dripping, rapid micro-dripping, unstable jetting, and stable jetting.
• These modes are suitable for controlled nano-material patterning.

Conclusions:

• Electrohydrodynamic spraying and printing are interconnected processes with a tunable transition.
• The electrohydrodynamic route is robust for nano-material processing, particularly for biomedical applications.
• Control over transitional modes enables versatile nano-material patterning.