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3D printing is an additive method that is changing the way we make things by enabling cheap item-level customization. Printed electronics is also an additive process that is enabling a paradigm shift in electronic devices from small-sized and rigid electronics to large-sized and flexible ones. 3D printing and printed electronics will have strong convergence in the near future, enabling 3D printed functional products. We are witnessing the beginning.

Energy Harvesting (EH) solutions need to further reduce cost on their way to widespread adoption, and printed electronics will certainly help. In fact, printed electronics is already impacting energy harvesting. Printed solar cells such as organic photovoltaics and dye-sensitized solar cells are suitable for indoor EH solutions. Printed devices are also making in-roads in other types of harvesters, including thermoelectric and vibrational. Additionally, power is a key need for printed electronics products which can utilize different forms of energy harvesting components.

Conductive and other functional inks and pastes are a first target market for many graphene and 2D material suppliers, which are already transitioning en-mass up the value chain to offer formulations. These inks already target a variety of printed products/components such as RFID antennas, smart packaging, transparent low-cost switches, etc. Indeed, printed electronics is the lowest hanging market for graphene and 2D material suppliers.

Going from the Internet of People to the Internet of Things and on the way transition from billion to trillion units of electronics will require an order of magnitude reduction in production cost, greatly stretching the economics of existing methods. Printed electronics is positioned as an enabling technology that makes this cost reduction possible across many electronic elements/devices.

Supercapacitors will become an integral part of energy storage system across the board, ranging from large-sized electrical to small-sized electronic devices. They deliver fast charge up and discharge rate, wider temperature compliance and prolonged battery life. Coating and printing are the main deposition methods for producing supercapacitor electrodes, which is the costliest element in the device's bill of materials.

Wearable technology needs to be robust, light, thin, flexible and even stretchable. The electronic components already undergoing this paradigm shift include displays, batteries, backplanes, conductors, sensors, etc. Printed, large-area, and/or organic electronics enables this paradigm shift towards electronics with new form factors.