Film-Free LIFT (FF-LIFT)

This chapter discusses in detail the current problems related to the preparation of liquid films in laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), from fundamental aspects to practical problems. It introduces film-free LIFT (FF-LIFT), explains its physical principles, and describes the different modalities in which the technique can be implemented. It discusses important experimental factors that can affect the quality of the printing process, such as spherical aberration or optical absorption of the liquid, and finally, gives examples of applications in which FF-LIFT has been successfully used. The uniformity of the donor film has a direct influence on the outcome of the LIFT printing process. The intrinsic instability of a liquid film and the technical problems associated with the preparation of materials in film form led to the development of a novel laser printing technique capable of depositing a liquid directly from a reservoir.