Electrode manufacturing based on printing: a mini review

With the advent of printed electronics, electrode manufacturing has made significant progress. In contrast to the traditional lift-off method, printing methods offer several advantages. They are not limited by the shape, structure, or material of the substrate, allowing for the manufacturing of electrodes using a wider range of materials. The manufacturing process can be completed at low temperatures, and the cost is reduced due to less material consumption. Printing methods can be broadly categorized into plate printing and plateless printing. Screen printing is a representative plate printing method, while inkjet printing is a typical plateless method. The two techniques are widely used in electrode manufacturing due to their convenience and the easily customized graphics. Screen printing is particularly efficient for processing electrodes in large quantities, while inkjet printing offers greater flexibility, allowing for quick adjustments to the shape of electrodes. This paper reviews recent advances in electrode manufacturing based on printing, focuses on the characteristics of screen printing and inkjet printing, and makes discussions about the main issues and challenges and the potential solutions.