Fabrication of 3D Micro Ice Structures Based on Inkjet Printing

This study proposes a method for fabricating 3D micro structures of ice without supporting material. The inkjet printing process in a low humidity environment is employed to form ice crystals with precisely controlled direction. The pico-droplets are injected on the previously formed ice structure, and then immediately freeze into ice. Different 3D structures, with a maximum height of 2000 μm, can be formed by controlling the substrate temperature, the ejection frequency and the size of a single droplet. The branch point depends on the fall point of the droplet on the previously formed ice structure, thus a high degree of freedom is available for the 3D structure.