Abstract: Material can be deposited directly onto a substrate by using a fluid applicator such as an inkjet printer to apply at least two fluids which react to give the desired material for a range of applications. Thus, multiples of a printing mechanism are used to deposit materials as reagents that react together to form products. The materials may also be advantageously deposited from multiple inkjet heads to prepare a wide range of reaction scenarios in the form of user-defined patterns which may be sequences of differing layers and possibly to build up thicker layers. Thus, a PCB could be printed by the inkjet printer by simply printing the metal salt and the reducing agent directly, instead of two colours from a conventional inkjet printer for example. To print a three dimensional article, a pair of fluids which react to give a precipate can be used instead. Repeated passes can then build up a desired shape. The two processes could be combined to produce composite devices such as electrical components.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming high resolution patterns of material on a substrate by way of catalytic reactions.