Advanced Materials

Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) launched a silver nanoparticle ink in 2009. XRCC has since scaled up its production capacity and is now tailoring its inks for a range of printing techniques (inkjet, gravure, flexo, aerosol, etc) and customer requirements.

Genes'Ink is a young and small French company synthesizing and formulating silver and ZnO nanoparticle inks. They have a small production chamber. A key ability is their synthesis and formulation know-how, which can be applied to a range of materials.

Provider of OLED lighting modules

In this article series, IDTechEx Research will critically examine the various technology options that are emerging to serve as transparent conductive films. IDTechEx will provide a detailed briefing on the technology attributes and manufacturing processes. IDTechEx will then offer a critical SWOT analyses and examine the current and future uses of the technology. Finally, IDTechEx will offer a briefing on key players commercialising the technology. IDTechEx Research will start by examining silver nanowires and will then continue with graphene, carbon nanotubes, micro-fine, metal mesh and PDOT:PSS.

Zytronic Displays Limited is providing touch solutions (sensors and drive/sense electronics) based on a micro wire grid concept. Their target markets are medium-sized ATMs, game consoles, industrial units, etc. Their products are durable and robustest and they currently occupy a healthy market niche.

Several major trends have been driving technological innovation in the display industry since its early days. These trends include image quality, screen size, portability and form factor. These have determined the direction of technological innovation and shaped entire value chains.

The remarkable material graphene promises a wide range of applications in future electronics that could complement or replace traditional silicon technology.

Clariant is a Swiss-based speciality chemical company employing 18099 employees and generating 5 billion USD revenue. Clariant spends 3.3% of its revenue on R&D and is currently undergoing a company-wide exercise to optimize its portfolio. Clariant acquired Bayer's technology for manufacturing silver nanoparticle and is now working to commercialize it.

O-Film is a Chinese touch panel manufacturer that has acquired that metal mesh technology developed by NanoGrid. They company has already set up a manufacturing line and is fast increasing its sale units and revenue into the consumer electronic market. The technology has a compelling value proposition because it improves performance and reduces cost.

This article discusses opportunities for printable nano-gold inks. The conductivity of nano gold inks are similar or lower than most existing printable pastes and inks including the silver based ones. The lower conductivity translates into a larger volume for reaching the same conductivity level. Gold is also more expensive per kilogram than most other metals. This means that gold inks are both over-priced and underperforming, suggesting that they will locked out of most volume applications. The question will therefore be what attributes do gold inks offer that can create niche market segments, what these niche markets are likely to be and how large they will become. The article exactly addresses these questions.

Sinovia Technologies is a young start-up based in San Francisco, California. They were spun out of the PhD research work carried out at Stanford. The value added for Sinovia Technologies is in the coating process. Their process is roll-to-roll and they claim that they can produce the smoothest finish on the market even compared to rival silver nanowire producers.

SAGE Electrochromics is an electrochromic glass manufacturer. The company was bought recently by Saint Gobain Group, a global leader in glass manufacturing and retailing. The company invested $135 million in a manufacturing plant in 2013.