Patent ID: 8865254

Claim:
A method for applying a material onto a substrate using a droplet printing technique, which method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a solution of a precursor of the material or a suspension of the material in a liquid medium; (b) generating droplets from the solution or the suspension, and releasing the droplets into the direction of the substrate; and (c) exposing the droplets to a temperature which is equal to or larger than the boiling temperature of the liquid medium before they are deposited on the substrate so as to establish: (i) that the liquid medium is completely removed when the suspension comprises a metal or polymer suspension, or the liquid medium used in the suspension is for at least 50% removed when the suspension comprises a ceramic suspension, whereby the material is allowed to melt when the liquid medium is removed completely; or (ii) that the liquid medium is completely removed, whereby pyrolysis of the precursor and melting of the material is allowed to take place when the precursor comprises a metal salt, thereby yielding molten droplets of the material; and thereafter (d) flowing the molten droplets to the intended location on the substrate and depositing the molten droplets on the substrate.