There are a host of materials company developing conductive materials for the printed electronics field. One key is capturing excellent conductivity, and nanoparticles are an approach that is showing promise.

Genes’Ink, Rousset, France, is developing active nanoparticle inks for printed electronics. Founded in 2010, the company’s goal is to become the technology leader in nano products for printed electronics, with applications in areas such as touchscreens, sensors and packaging.

Based on research stemming from the University of Marseilles and the University of Grenoble, Genes’Ink has strong expertise in ink formulation based on nanoparticles developed in its R&D laboratory.

“The strength of Genes’Ink is to make formulations that meet printers’ needs,” a Genes’Ink’s technical lab member noted. “Under the leadership of Corinne Versini, a degreed chemical engineer and former IBM executive, this expert research team represents various specialties, all combining to make the perfect storm to create innovative inks for printed electronics and to allow the printed electronics industry to move forward with new, better and more performing technology, thus facilitating new products for the printed electronics consumers.”

Genes’Ink’s research has led to a wide variety of products, including conductive silver, semi-conductive zinc oxide, RFID inks and security inks that are fluorescent and recognizable under specific frequencies. These inks are adaptable to current methods of printing, such as screen and inkjet, and are ideal for applications ranging from printed electronics and membrane switches to printed circuits and solar security printing. They also offer a number of advantages; they are all non-toxic and contain no CMRs.

“The advantages are that we are an ink maker with ready to use inks, and we do not make pastes,” the technical lab member noted. “This facilitates the usage of the products for the printer and gives better results in terms of, for example, conductivity.”

For example, the Silver Conductive inks are highly conductive, have a low sintering temperature T (<150°C), and are available for spray, digital and screen printing. The Silver Conductive inks have excellent resistance to scratches, good adhesion on glass, glass/ITO, and are compatible with most flexible substrates.

The Zinc Oxide Semi Conductive inks are an alternative to sputtered ZnO, and have an easy deposit at room temperature, with no need for a glove box. They are available for spray, digital and screen printing as well.

Genes’Ink’s Fluorescent Security Ink is specifically designed for high speed digital printing applications and offers high security properties, as it is extremely difficult to copy because of the unique technology.

The RFID Ink is available for digital or screen printing, and has a low sintering T (<150°C). It is compatible with most flexible substrates, including Teslin, provides excellent results with photonic curing and is available with different metal content.

Overall, Genes’Ink sees excellent potential for printed electronics in the coming years.

“We see it as huge, with a potential of several billion dollars,” Genes’Ink’s lab member said. “Genes’Ink is in screen and digital solvent inks, with the security inks being water-based as well. For digital inks, the ink is compatible with most printheads. Genes’Ink is about to launch a new set of inks in OLED and a line of UV and LED inks for the printed electronics industry.

“In terms of printing processes, we are developing flexo and gravure inks for printed electronics, and long term we see our inks on offset machines,” they added. “We see a rebound of the solar industry, which will come from France with some new technology. Overall we are very confident about the potential and in developing inks that meet industry needs and are more technologically advanced in terms of performance.”