A Review of Multimaterial Additively Manufactured Electronics and 4-D Printing/Origami Shape-Memory Devices: Design, Fabrication, and Implementation

Abstract

Emerging additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, specifically additively manufactured electronics (AME), 4-D printing, and origami, are reshaping the design capabilities and functionalities of contemporary electronic devices. Cutting-edge 3-D/4-D printing technologies facilitate the prototyping and realization of complex electronic functions that are challenging to conventional methods. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving techniques in AME, 4-D printing, and origami, employing multimaterials (conductive and dielectric materials) and shape-memory materials (SMMs) to fabricate functional electronic components and devices. Additionally, the overview delves into the state-of-the-art AME and 4-D-printed electronic components across diverse fields, including biomedical electronics, space engineering, and the advancements in the next-generation wireless communications and sensing.