This study proposed a method for fabricating 3D microstructures of ice without a supporting material. The inkjet printing process was performed in a low humidity environment to precisely control the growth direction of the ice crystals. In the printing process, water droplets (volume = hundreds of picoliters) were deposited onto the previously formed ice structure, after which they immediately froze. Different 3D structures (maximum height = 2000 µm) could be formed by controlling the substrate temperature, ejection frequency and droplet size. The growth direction was dependent on the landing point of the droplet on the previously formed ice structure; thus, 3D structures could be created with high degrees of freedom.

这项研究提出了一种在没有支撑材料的情况下制造冰 3D 微观结构的方法。喷墨打印过程在低湿度环境下进行，以精确控制冰晶的生长方向。在打印过程中，水滴（体积=数百皮升）沉积在先前形成的冰结构上，之后它们立即冻结。通过控制基板温度、喷射频率和液滴尺寸可以形成不同的 3D 结构（最大高度 = 2000 µm）。生长方向取决于液滴在先前形成的冰结构上的着陆点；因此，可以以高自由度创建 3D 结构。