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Using Direct Ink Write (DIW) technology in a rapid and large-scale production requires reliable quality control for printed parts. Data streams generated during printing, such as print mechatronics, are massive and diverse which impedes extracting insights. In our study protocol approach, we developed a data-driven workflow to understand the behavior of sensor-measured X- and Y- axes positional errors with process parameters, such as print velocity and velocity control. We uncovered patterns showing that instantaneous changes in the velocity, when the build platform accelerates and decelerates, largely influence the positional errors, especially in the X- axis due to the hardware architecture. Since DIW systems share similar mechatronic inputs and outputs, our study protocol approach is broadly applicable and scalable across multiple systems. 

Side chain engineering of non-planar zinc(ii) complexes of azadipyrromethene enables either very high hole mobility, high electron mobility or both as estimated by the space-charge limited current (SCLC) method in diodes. 

Zinc(II) complexes of azadipyrromethenes are non-planar chromophores with strong absorption in the visible to NIR and are promising n-type materials for organic solar cells. To increase solubility and tune their properties, we incorporated hexyl or hexyloxy solubilizing groups either on the distal or proximal phenyls of bis[2,6-diphenylethynyl-1,3,7,9-tetraphenyl azadipyrromethene] zinc(II) (Zn(WS3)2). Crystal structures confirm the typical distorted tetrahedral geometry for these types of complexes and show that the solubilizing groups on the distal phenyls extend away from the conjugated core whereas groups on proximal phenyls interact with the other ligand. Differential scanning calorimetry measurement indicated that crystals of distal-substituted complexes have two endothermic peaks: solubilizing groups ‘melting’ and complex melting, whereas the proximal substituted complexes show one exothermic crystallization peak and one endothermic melting peak. Electrochemical and optical properties varied as expected for ADP-based complexes: the presence of electron rich groups at the proximal substitutions resulted in lower oxidation potentials, higher HOMO levels, red-shifted absorption and lower optical gap than distal substitutions, and the effect was greater for hexyloxy than hexyl. Upon thermal annealing, films of the hexyloxy-substituted complexes strongly aggregated and showed crystal features under a polarized microscope, indicating that hexyloxy groups drive ordered self-assembly, especially when placed on distal phenyls. The ability to guide solid-state self-assembly of these non-planar chromophores using solubilizing groups have the potential to improve their charge carrier mobility and performance in opto-electronic applications such as organic solar cells, and photodetectors.