Introduction for JEP Special Issue on Printed Electronics

Abstract

While the use of metal movabletype printing was first invented in Asia as early as the 13th century, the westernstyle printing press was not fully adopted until centuries later. Since then, printing technologies have evolved dramatically, including recently developed direct printing methodologies such as ink jet printing. Recent advances in threedimensional printing technologies offer myriad new possibilities. Threedimensional fabrication via additive manufacturing is becoming a powerful tool not only for prototyping but also for mass production of commercial devices.