The demand for smart objects continues to grow as the interest to add electronics to everyday items increases. Printed and hybrid electronics have an opportunity to impact this growing market by enabling customization, as well as, reducing the cost, the weight, and the profile of devices when compared to traditional electronics. Printing electronics has many challenges including the variety and availability of materials, understanding material-material interactions, and integrating printed electronic components into functional devices on and in non-traditional form factors. At XRCC, our printed electronics program employs a cross-disciplinary team that work together to invent new approaches to tackling these challenges. This presentation will highlight our initiatives in the areas of smart packaging, wearables, and structural electronics that are ultimately working towards commercializing printed and hybrid electronics.

Dr. Sarah Vella received her Ph. D. from University of Windsor, Canada, with Prof. Stephen J. Loeb in supramolecular chemistry. She went on to do post-doctoral research at Harvard University with Prof. George M. Whitesides in materials chemistry. She is a Senior Research Scientist and Project Leader at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC); her technical focus is the development of materials, and the fabrication and characterization of devices targeting printed electronics.

The Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) is the global materials research and development centre for Xerox Corporation and a pioneer in the design, scale-up, and supply of electronic and specialty materials. XRCC's Client Services Business offerings include contract RD&E services and a portfolio of electronic materials products.