Sol GUTIÉRREZ

Sol Gutiérrez is a Nanomaterial Specialist at the Danish Technological Institute, where she focuses on developing two-dimensional materials and nanomaterials for printed electronics applications. Her current work involves synthesis and characterisation of materials for wearable sensors, electrochemical sensors, and copper-based conductive inks, contributing to European Union projects including EECONE, SaP, and Diagonal as part of multidisciplinary teams working toward sustainable electronic solutions.

Dr. Gutiérrez completed her Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry at DTU (2018-2022), studying perovskite nanocrystal photophysics and morphological effects from nano to microscale. Her research background includes experience with various characterisation techniques, film deposition methods, and nanomaterials synthesis. With a particular interest in sustainability and green alternatives, she applies her technical expertise to explore how nanomaterials can contribute to more environmentally conscious approaches in printed electronics and materials development.

The practical implementation of these copper inks is demonstrated in membrane switch devices, a cornerstone of flexible electronics. Climate chamber studies reveal copper’s susceptibility to humidity and temperature varies significantly with ink formulation strategies, informing robust design approaches. Current challenges focus on improving adhesion to PET substrates, where the conductivity of copper tracks outperforms silver, but formulation optimisation is critical to enhance interfacial bonding. Ongoing efforts prioritise refining sintering protocols, testing additives to overcome PET’s low surface energy and non-polar nature. This work bridges green nanoparticle synthesis with industrial-scale conductive ink production, paving the way for sustainable alternatives in wearable electronics and beyond.

This research was funded by the European Union under the GA no 101070556- Sustain a Print.