Fig. 3: Regulation of printing performance by ink properties.

a Optical microscopy images of lines printed via aerosol jet printing (AJP) at a sheath gas flow rate of 60 sccm with diethylene glycol (DEG) concentrations of i. 0% v/v, ii. 5% v/v, iii. 10% v/v, and iv. 15% v/v. Scale bar: 100 μm. The experiment was repeated independently three times with similar results. b 3D view and c cross-sectional view of liquid metal ink (LMI@30P, LMI with 30 mg/mL PVP) lines printed via AJP at a sheath gas flow rate of 100 sccm. d Variation of the calculated maximum spreading diameter with LMI viscosity at different sheath gas flow rates (sccm). e Variation of the printed line width with viscosity at different sheath gas flow rates (sccm). Data are presented as mean values ± SD (n = 5 independent replicates). f Normalized printed line width (Lw/Lw₁), where Lw₁ corresponds to that at 3.05 mPa·s, as a function of LMI viscosity at different sheath gas flow rates (sccm). Data are presented as mean values ± SD (n = 5 independent replicates). g Normalized the calculated maximum spreading diameter (D_max/D_max1) as a function of ink viscosity at different sheath gas flow rates (sccm), where D_max1 corresponds to 3.05 mPa·s. Source data are provided as a Source data file.