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| Nanotube Ink | |
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The NanoLab "Nink” products are carbon nanotube inks for direct printing of nanotube electronics and
sensors. This ink contains carboxyl (COOH) functionalized carbon nanotubes in an aqueous suspension with the
minimum concentration of additives to impart long term stability and printability to the ink. NanoLab produces
two types of ink, Nink-1000 (multiwall carbon nanotube ink) and Nink-1100 (single wall carbon nanotube ink).
NanoLab formulated Nink to be printable using HP’s DeskjetTM series printers. For the electrical properties of Ninks, click here Important tips on printing with Nink, click here NanoLab maintains a stock of HP “45” cartridges filled with Nink. These cartridges have a volume of 42 ml. Nink-1000- HP45 multiwall carbon nanotube ink cartridge $200 Nink-1100-HP45 single wall carbon nanotube ink cartridge $250 Refill kits are available by request. Compatibility The HP 45 print cartridge is currently used in the following HP printers: HP Deskjet printers HP Deskjet 1600CN HP Deskjet 1220C and 1220C/PS professional series HP Deskjet 1120Cxi professional series HP Deskjet 1000C series HP Deskjet 970C, 960C, 950C, and 930C series HP Deskjet 890C, 880C, 870C, 855C, 830C, and 820C series HP Deskjet 720C, and 710C series Color multifunction products HP Officejet R40xi printer/copier/scanner HP Officejet R80xi print/fax/copy/scanner HP Officejet T45xi all-in-one HP Officejet R60 HP Officejet T65xi printer/fax/copier/scanner HP Officejet G95, G85xi, and G55xi series HP Officejet Pro 1170 and 1175 series HP Officejet Pro 1150C HP Designjet 700, 750C, and 755CM HP Designjet 750C Plus Personal copiers HP Color Copier 260 HP Color Copier 280 HP Color Copier 180 HP Color Copier 160 HP Photosmart HP Photosmart P1100xi printer HP Photosmart P1218xi printer Electrical Properties Squares of Nink-1000 were printed using an HP Deskjet 960C onto overhead transparency film and also onto standard copier paper (20 lb). The square edge length was 1.5 inch. Test setup We loosely followed ASTM D-254 in the measurement of the sheet resistance. We prepared a coaxial test fixture, consisting of a copper tube and a copper rod, separated by an insulator, as shown in Fig. 1 (below left). The core diameter was 0.244” and the outer tube inner diameter was 0.565”. Consequently, the radial gap between electrodes was 0.1605” and the area under test was 0.203 in2. The square of the radial gap is 0.0256 in2, approximately 1/8th of the area under test. Effectively, this fixture has eight “squares” being tested in parallel. Therefore, the ohm/square value is calculated by dividing the measured resistance value by eight. The fixture was firmly held against the printed sheet, and resistance was measured using a Keithley Sourcemeter 2400. 
Test Results The resistance of the nanotube deposit printed on both the paper and transparency film is plotted against the number of printing times. Electrical resistance drops with the number of prints, as the layer of nanotubes increases in thickness and achieves the percolation threshold.(above right chart) Tips and Notes on using Nink Cleaning procedure: In formulating Nink, we opted to keep additives at a minimum, so that the electrical properties of the nanotubes would be maximized. The ink suspension is stable, but Nink lacks the humectants and other additives found in standard printing inks. As such, Nink cartridges should be cleaned before and after use. Dip the print head into a deionized water bath for ~30 seconds, then blot dry with a paper towel. An ultrasonic bath may also be used. HP has directions for cleaning its cartridges, and these can generally be followed. Installation and Printing After installing the cartridge, it is useful to ‘prime’ the cartridge. This is a setting that can be found in the printer preferences window, accessed by right clicking on the printer icon. Drivers for printing Nink Some color DeskJet printers use both the black cartridge and the color cartridge when printing black. This is an option that can be turned off, but only if the full featured drivers are installed. Please download the most up to date, full featured driver for your printer from HP. 
Storage, print count and shelf life Storage in a zip-closure plastic bag at room temperature is recommended. The Nink cartridge should have a shelf life greater than one year if the storage conditions are met. NanoLab estimates that the ‘45’ cartridge should print at least 800 sheets before becoming depleted. | |
| The page is updated on 05/04/2010 |
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