The Basic Concept and Application Status of Laser Induced Forward Transfer

Abstract

Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) is a new type of transfer method. It uses high-energy laser as an energy source to irradiate solid or liquid materials, allowing them to be emitted onto the receiving substrate under the force of steam to achieve the transfer of material. Nowadays, although most of the work on LIFT is still in the laboratory stage, compared to the traditional process of LIFT, its nozzle free characteristics, pixel-based transfer method, make it have high production efficiency, universality of materials, and compatibility with Computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools. In this review, the fundamental principle of LIFT is introduced and the great potential of LIFT in many fields is presented and analyzed, including Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, industrial manufacturing, energy storage material manufacturing, new-type energy and so on. The conclusion is that if the application of LIFT in the manufacturing field can be achieved, the efficiency and flexibility of modern digital production will be greatly improved. The LIFT method has great development prospects in the manufacturing field.