Abstract: An apparatus for and method of depositing material on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: delivering from a first outlet a stream of droplets of a precursor liquid towards a substrate; applying an electric field between the first outlet and the substrate; and delivering from a second outlet a flow of fuel about the stream of droplets such as to provide an annular flame combustion region between the first outlet and the substrate through which at least a portion of the stream of droplets passes before reaching the substrate, whereby the precursor liquid is one or both of chemically reacted and decomposed to provide the deposited material.

Abstract: In preferred aspects the present invention provides: (i) a method of and apparatus for depositing material, preferably a film, on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; heating the substrate; generating an aerosol comprising droplets of a material solution; providing a nozzle unit for delivering the aerosol to the substrate, the nozzle unit including at least one outlet through which a directed flow of the aerosol is delivered and at least one electrode; charging the aerosol droplets with a positive or negative charge; providing a flow of the aerosol through the nozzle unit so as to deliver a directed flow of the aerosol from the at least one outlet; and generating an electric field between the substrate and the at least one electrode such that the directed aerosol flow is attracted towards the substrate; and (ii) a method of and apparatus for fabricating a powder, preferably an ultrafine powder, the method comprising the steps of: providing a heated zone; generating an aeroso

Abstract: A method of depositing a material onto a substrate, comprising the steps of: feeding a material solution to an outlet to provide a stream of droplets of the material solution; applying a potential difference between the outlet and a substrate to electrostatically attract the droplets from the outlet towards the substrate such that a corona discharge is formed around the outlet; heating the substrate to provide an increase in temperature between the outlet and the substrate; and progressively increasing the temperature of the substrate during material deposition.

Abstract: Fabrication apparatus for fabricating an object as a plurality of successive laminae, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle comprising a precursor outlet for applying an aerosol or gaseous precursor onto a recipient surface; a heater for providing a temperature gradient along an application path of the precursor, so that the precursor is heated as it approaches the recipient surface and a transformation initiated so that a material layer of transformed material is deposited on the recipient surface; and a directable light beam for locally heating regions of the material layer so as to further transform the locally-heated regions to a solid material.