Topic: From Sustainable Ink Formulation to Printed Functional Devices

Lecturer: Researcher Bruna Ferreira Gonçalves

Time: November 17th, 2025, 10:30-11:30, UTC+8

Venue: Report Hall of the International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Room 201, West Campus Library

Biography: Bruna Gonçalves has a degree in Chemistry, a master in Characterization Techniques and Chemical Analysis and a Ph.D.in Materials Engineering completed in 2021 in University of Minho and International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal. In 2022, Bruna has moved to Spain for a postdoctoral position at BCMaterials to work on printed devices by developing printed gas sensors for detecting volatile organic compounds. She is experienced in using advanced neutron characterization, conducting more than 10 experiments and securing four beamtime projects. She has been involved in 11 research projects, including six European initiatives. She has published 21 articles in Q1 international peer-reviewed journals, three as corresponding author, accumulating over 375 citations and achieving an h-index of 11 (Scopus, September 2025). She contributes to academic service as a reviewer, and has also co-authored more than 10 conference communications, including six oral presentations. She has co-supervised two master’s students, and five undergraduate students. Currently, she is mentoring three Ph.D. candidates. Additionally, she served as a teacher at the PrintFun Autumn School (B.lbao, Spain)

Abstract: Sustainable ink formulation for printed smart devices is an emerging field at the intersection of green chemistry, materials science, and flexible electronics. As demand for lightweight, low-cost. and eco-friendly electronic components grows, researchers are focusing on developing conductive and functional inks derived from renewable, non-toxic, and biodegradable materials. Unlike conventional inks made with hazardous solvents and rare or toxic metals, sustainable formulations reduce environmental impact while ensuring performance. durability, and printability. They also support scalable, energy-efficient production aligned with circular economy principles.

This lecture will highlight advances in the formulation of environmentally friendly inks and their processability through scalable 2D printing techniques, with particular emphasis on spray and screen printing. The discussion will cover not only the chemical and rheological design of the inks but also the critical role of filler dispersion, viscosity control, substrate compatibility, and drying dynamics in achieving high-quality printed films. The physicochemical properties of these films, including conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and stability under operational conditions, will be analyzed in relation to device performance. To illustrate these concepts. three classes of printed smart devices will be presented. First, piezoresistive inks prepared from aqueous dispersions of well-dispersed carbon nanotubes will be explored for large-deformation sensing, demonstrating how formulation strategies influence sensitivity and mechanical robustness. Second, the development of capacitive inks will be discussed for volatile organic compound detection and quantification, highlighting the interplay between material selection and sensor selectivity. Finally, ink formulations for photoabsorber layers based on chalcopyrite materials will be detailed, showcasing their integration into all-printed photovoltaic cells and the challenges of optimizing film uniformity and light absorption.

Rewritten by: Lin Qiaochu

Edited by: Liang Muwei, Li Tiantian

Source: International School of Materials Science and Engineering