Roll-to-roll manufacture of flexible thin-film thermoelectric generators using flexography with vacuum vapour deposition

Exploring processes for industrial large-scale manufacture of low-cost electronic devices is timely the upcoming era Internet Things. In this study, a roll-to-roll process using selective metallisation (a combination flexographic printing an oil liquid-mask and physical vapour deposition: sputtering evaporation) explored flexible electronics, with wearable thermoelectric generator as exemplar device. Two post-treatments (electron beam infrared) are trialled to remove residual after metallisation. Both effective removal oil, however, used in degrades functional material severely, causing dramatic increase internal resistance This attributable (1) doping oxidation issues semiconductor film; (2) existence at interface between two coatings. The fabricated shows good voltage output comparable standard device shadow mask, providing option portable requiring source. study reports industrially compatible manufacturing electronics. Further studies under way optimise performance. • Sputtering evaporation were integrated flexography make nano-thick patterns. Electron infrared deposition. technique