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A systematic procedure that provides an efficient workflow for formulating conductive inks is developed. Qualitative product attributes of the inkjet ink are first identified and transformed into quantitative product specifications. Ingredients are then selected based on heuristics, mechanistic, and empirical models to meet the product specifications. Printability checks based on theoretical criteria are used to ensure that stable droplets can in principle be formed and coalesced properly to form a printed line of ink. Then, the conductive ink is prepared and printed to evaluate the performance of the inkjet ink experimentally. An example of preparing a copper ink for inkjet printing is used to illustrate the systematic procedure. Have good printability ᭺ Stable droplets are formed during printing ᭺ The ink has suitable wettability on the substrate surface ᭺ Droplets deposited on the substrate coalesce to form a line properly Product attributes as a solid track Have a good conductivity ᭺ No coffee ring stains are observed ᭺ No cracks are observed ᭺ Minimum pore volume in track a The contact angles of water, ethylene glycol, and glycerol were measured by the sessile drop technique. The contact angles of other solvents were estimated by the OWRK method.

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