Jennifer Lewis, a professor of Harvard University, has searched for intelligent "ink" through decades of research to help designers create customized batteries and electrical contacts, which may be realized through entry-level 3D printers, which may lead to changes in electronic accessories. If 3D printers become the factories of the future as promised, they will do more than just make plastic parts. MakerBots 3D printer can work all day and produce a large number of movie and television cartoon characters. But even the most advanced 3D printer is difficult to realize simple electromechanical device printing.

It turns out that the challenge is not the machine itself, but the "ink" put into the machine. Professor Jennifer Lewis is the head of the Lewis Laboratory of Harvard University. He has been committed to the research and development of intelligent ink for the past decades. He has worked hard to find an "ink" to help designers achieve customized printing of batteries and electric contacts.

Professor Lewis said, "We have been focusing on the expansion of 3D printing from shape to function." With enough time and a bit of luck, designers will see 3D printers produce robots and robots come out of printers themselves.

Smart ink can give full play to its technical value. The battery material remains solid under normal conditions, but is liquid under pressure. This new property allows the battery to be placed in a plastic substrate at room temperature, realizing design flexibility and breaking through the process of manufacturing at traditional high temperatures. In theory, because Lewis's liquid energy materials can be easily placed in other parts, the size of accessories can also be reduced.

It is expected that these materials will be widely used in the future, but currently they are only implemented in the academic environment of Professor Lewis. The battery material is produced from lithium titanium oxide nano particle suspension in the mixture of deionized water and ethylene glycol.

The commitment to technology is great, but it should not be whimsical. Professor Lewis said, "I am moderately skeptical of everyone who says that we will print out functional mobile phones within five years."