Printed electronics is normally categorized into three families:
- Conductors: constitute the biggest volume of a printed circuit
- Semi-conductors: allow you to build logic in the printed circuit (transistors – switches, diodes etc.)
- Dielectrics: are there to boost the electric content to allow lower voltage applications and for certain components like capacitors
Copper
Applications:
- Functional pigment for printed inks:
Printed conductive tracks, ultrafine screen features, flexible substrates - Printed components: fully printed PCBs, antennas etc.
Key selling points:
- Nano-copper (approximately 100 nm)
- Conductive metal
- Cost-effective alternative to silver
- Contains only Cu and an antioxidant
- Cost-effective process due to low CAPEX and OPEX costs
- Scale-up of continuous production achieved (multi-kg batches)
- Non-oxidised material, standard 60% wt Cu available in range of solvents (even customers’ specific blends,
- Final formulated ink (made with our nano-copper dispersion) approved for inkjet, screenprinting, flexography and gravure.
Silver
Applications:
- Functional pigment for printed inks:
Printed conductive tracks, ultrafine screen features, flexible substrates - Printed components: fully printed PCBs, antennas etc.
Key selling points:
- Nano-silver (approximately 50 nm)
- Highly conductive metal
- Used for higher demanding applications
- Water based composition, no environmental impact or personnal risks
- Scale-up of continuous production achieved
Barium Titanate
Applications:
- Dielectric material, high dielectric constant
- Capacitors, dielectric for printed components (i.e. Thin Film
Transistors, diodes), piezo of electric material
Key selling points:
- Small primary particle size (less than 20 nm)
- One of the highest dielectric constant materials
- Water based pigment
- Suitable for screenprinting
Indium doped Zinc oxide
Applications:
- Used as a semi-conductor i.e. large area displays, LCD, OLEDs
Key selling points:
- Inkjetable dispersion which removes the need for etching
- Used for TFT
- Final formulated ink (made with our dispersion) approved for inkjet, screenprinting and gravure.
Nickel
Applications:
- Used as a conductor or an electrode material (i.e. solar cells)
- Used as batteries (Nickel-Iron batteries)
- Strong magnetic properties, could be used in several applications
Key selling points:
- Low oxidation rate
- Strong magnetic properties
- Straight forward material as no overcoat is required while depositing the material.
The list of dispersions above is non-exhaustive. The materials can be dispersed in a large range of solvents, do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you require further information.
For further details on each material, please refer to our dispersion catalogue.