Nanotechnologies and Printing and Packaging
Image by Zeptonn/Stinger on Flickr
Printing technologies, for example screen and inkjet printing, are used to deposit particles onto various surfaces including paper. In the future printing technologies will become standard nanomanufacturing technologies for the production of various components and devices. A growing area for the application of printing technologies is in printed electronics, which has progressed from the production of conductive patterns for printed circuit boards (PCBs) to actual components such as printed radio frequency identification (RFI) antennas and thin-film microbatteries.
Nanotechnology-based printed electronics combine conducting and semiconducting nanomaterials (e.g. carbon nanotubes, conductive polymers and metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, and combinations thereof, in printing ink and fluid formulations), printing processes and sometimes nanoprocesses like sol-gel and self-assembly to build electronic structures and thin films. Printing is potentially faster and cheaper than conventional methods offering the electronics industry the possibility to use flexible substrates (e.g. plastics and paper), lower processing temperatures and high-volume roll-to-roll processes to produce low-cost systems and devices.
The use of print-forming technologies and nanomaterials are only now beginning to see use. For example, researchers have used carbon nanotube pastes and inexpensive printing technologies in the production of displays and transistors and metal-nanoparticle based inks can lead to higher conductivities and lower curing temperatures compared to bulk metal particles.
Areas of opportunity for the use of nanotechnologies and printing include:
• electronic materials, smart materials and coatings,
• flexible displays (including backplanes) and electronic paper,
• organic LEDs,
• energy storage and generation devices (thin-film batteries and solar cells),
• sensors and actuators and memory.
Combination of some of these technologies could impact a wide range of market sectors, most notably consumer products (e.g. food and beverage packaging, wall coverings, books and newspapers, smart textiles and fabrics).
Are nano printed electronics and packaging products already on the market?
Numerous conventional (non-nano) printed electronics components and devices are on the market, including electronic-paper displays and printed batteries. However, certain organic and inorganic nanomaterial-based printed electronic materials, components and devices have only recently been demonstrated or commercialised. Examples include:
• A number of companies provide nanomaterial-based electronic inks (e.g. carbon nanotubes, silver, silicon and copper nanoinks for various applications, including for enhanced colour printing, production of transparent conductive electrodes, printed circuit boards and displays).
• Solar cells (e.g. printed hybrid conductive polymer/nanomaterial prototypes; Nanosolar prints its solar cell’s absorber layer using nanoparticle inks instead of using conventional vacuum deposition processes).
No nanobased electronic packaging products are commercially available.
Managing risks and uncertainties
The regulatory environment that governs conventional electronics systems and devices and their applications will hold true for the inclusion of nanomaterials and nanoprocesses, including meeting flame retardancy, RoHS and WEEE directive requirements. As with other sectors, further investigation into the environmental, health and safety effects of nanotechnologies will be important—especially if nano-based printed electronics are used in consumer products like food and beverage packaging—in determining market adoption and uptake.
Conclusions
Nanotechnologies will play a key role in the future use of printing technologies, especially in printed electronics. As the printed electronics sector matures we will see greater convergence of low-cost technologies, components and devices, including the greater use of smart, interactive labels and packaging—that comprise printed power supplies, sensors and displays—for a variety of products. However, smart packaging applications are still some years away from commercial reality.
Below is a SWOT analysis summarising Government understanding, from discussion with stakeholders, of the major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the UK in this sector. Please help to steer future actions and shape the UK business environment by answering the questions on the right hand side of the page.
Strength: Good research base and materials production expertise in the UK. UK electronics industry already embracing nanotechnologies and organic electronics with many SMEs active in printed electronics R&D and commercialisation.
Weakness: Performance of nanomaterials (e.g. electron mobility is often much lower in printed electronic devices than in corresponding silicon devices) and product consistency (scaling issues still need addressing for high-volume manufacture; surface tension and fluid flow issues for conventional inkjet printers occur at smaller printing dimensions); long time to market; cost of nanomaterials especially for disposable items (like product packaging); process compatibility with existing electronics manufacturing infrastructure.
Opportunity: High-throughput printing processes will dramatically reduce the cost of fabricating electronic devices. Lightweight, flexible substrates will provide design freedom, enabling the use of organic electronic devices in applications that are impractical for rigid devices (e.g. packaging and clothing). Opportunity for manufacturers of high-end products to embrace printed electronics and target low-end, disposable product markets. For example, providing necessary components for smart packaging could contribute to end-users not only providing improved products but also enhanced consumer experiences and brand recognition.
Threat: Conventional materials and manufacturing processes: Silicon will not be easily displaced. Numerous SME activity and significant competition from major US, Japanese, German and South Korean electronics and materials companies that have taken the lead in some printed electronics developments, including printing materials, printable solar cells and displays.
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