Direct-patterning of porphyrin dot arrays and lines using electrohydrodynamic jet printing.

In this research, we have fabricated micron-sized patterns of porphyrins on silicon substrates using an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing technique. Optical and fluorescence microscopies have been used to examine the shape and fluorescence property of porphyrin patterns. The morphology of the porphyrin patterns printed with variously formulated porphyrin inks and the effects of applied voltage, working distance, and substrate properties on the morphology of patterns were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We have also demonstrated the acid-vapor sensing capability of the porphyrins by exposing the porphyrin patterns on Si substrates to nitric acid vapor.