Post by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

🚀 A New Breakthrough in Nano-Printing Technology What if ultra-thin electronic circuits could be transferred directly onto living plant leaves, fruit surfaces, human skin, or even complex robotic structures—without heat, pressure, adhesives, or harmful chemicals? A joint research team led by KAIST, Korea University, and the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials has developed Water-Floating Nano-Transfer Printing (WF-nTP), a groundbreaking technology that enables precision metal nano-circuits to float on water and be seamlessly transferred onto virtually any 3D surface. By leveraging the unique properties of water, the team successfully transferred 20-nanometer-thick metal patterns while preserving their intricate nano-scale structures. The technology was demonstrated on a wide range of challenging surfaces, including plant leaves, fruits, flexible fibers, and highly curved objects. The researchers further showcased real-world applications by: 🌱 Detecting pesticide residues directly on plant leaves and fruit surfaces using SERS sensors 💨 Developing highly flexible wearable hydrogen gas sensors 🤖 Opening new possibilities for electronic skin, bioelectronics, wearable healthcare, and smart agriculture This innovation overcomes one of the biggest limitations of conventional nano-transfer printing and could serve as a foundational platform for next-generation wearable sensors and intelligent bio-integrated devices. The work was published in Nature Communications (March 2026). #KAIST #Nanotechnology #NanoPrinting #WearableTechnology #Bioelectronics #SmartAgriculture #Sensors #Innovation #NatureCommunications #ResearchBreakthrough