Invention of The Month: Conductive Ink

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Don’t wire a circuit—doodle it. To connect batteries to devices such as resistors and LEDs, a newly developed ballpoint pen uses silver-based ink that conducts electricity through lines drawn over paper, wood, plastic and even some textiles. Jennifer Lewis, the materials scientist who led the pen’s design at the University of Illinois, says she is now looking for business partners and hopes to have products that integrate the pen and ink on the market within a few months. Check out video of the ink below!

Conductive Silver Ink from a Ballpoint Pen thumbnail
Conductive Silver Ink from a Ballpoint Pen
 
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