Our world is facing huge environmental challenges and solutions to replace non-eco-friendly materials are highly demanded.
ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is the transparent conducting material used in most TCE (Transparent Conductive Electrodes) applications (display, touch screens, photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, etc.). While ITO has fantastic conductivity and transparency properties, it has some limitations: it is a scarce material, shows limited flexibility and requires heavy vacuum method for deposition.
The EU-funded MADRAS project aims at boosting the production of organic and large-area electronics (OLAE) by establishing a high-speed manufacturing methodology with new materials with improved conductivity, charge mobility and transparency.
In MADRAS, GenesInk is leading the advance of materials performance by developing advanced inks that will be implemented as Transparent Conductive Electrodes (TCE) and Hole Transport Layers (HTL), allowing the development of devices by printing techniques with increased robustness, while reducing their cost and environmental impact.
GenesInk work is mainly based on the development of:
- Ag NWs inks adapted to various printing processes (slot die, spray, flexography, and screen printing) for Transparent Conductive Electrodes (TCE) applications.
- Tungsten oxide (WO3) based inks mainly dedicated to hole transport layer (HTL) applications.
Ag NWs inks by GenesInk and in MADRAS – The ideal replacement of ITO
In 2017, GenesInk launched the TranDuctive® range based on Ag NWs (silver nanowires) for TCE applications. Ranges for slot-die, spray and blade coating were launched at the beginning.
In MADRAS, this range was optimized to meet nanocellulose substrates requirements. Our Ag NWs solution answers ITO replacement challenges hands down:
- High transparency – 90%
- High conductivity – Down to 5 Ohm/sq sheet resistance
- Adhesion 5B (ASTM D3359)
- Stability > 3 months
- High flexibility
Figure 1: Ag NWs based ink by GenesInk observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Tungsten oxide (WO3) based nanoinks – HTL
Compared to the state of the art, GenesInk offers WO3 based nanoinks for HTL applications with the following advantages:
- WO3 is a safe metal oxide (MOx) compared to NiO, MoO3 and V2O5 classified or suspected as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction.
- WO3 nanoink is a solution processable while MOx are commonly deposited by heavy methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), anodizing, etc
Figure 2: Synthesis and formulation of WO3/PEDOT:PSS nanoinks – Homogeneous, conductive and transparent layers are deposited by blade coating after formulation
In MADRAS, GenesInk is developing a new range of WO3 nanoparticles doped with conductive polymers to enhance their mobility and their charge transfer properties. So far, the first results of the hybrid material WO3-PEDOT:PSS are quite promising.
First OPDs, based on this hybrid material will be soon performed in MADRAS and more results will be communicated. Stay tuned!!
GenesInk solutions to the consumer electronics market
GenesInk is offering to the consumer electronics market nanoparticles-based inks. With nanoparticles low temperature processed flexible substrates, such as polymers, cellulose, and papers, can be considered for electronic applications. Our nanoinks, produced at industrial scale, are designed with combined mechanical and optical functionalities at the core – flexibility, stretchability, high resolution, and transparency. We design ultra-power efficient (conductive) nanoinks. Up to 5x times more conductive than market leaders with 7 to 8 times less materials used. We design all our nanoinks from synthesis, formulation, and production to be sustainable and respectful of humans and the environment.
Nowadays, GenesInk enables consumer electronics that previously were not thought to be possible:
- Flexible and foldable active packaging, smartphones, and screens.
- Connected wearables such as eyeglasses, biosensors.
- Transparent and flexible layers for photovoltaics, lighting, and display applications.
“At GenesInk, we design nanoinks with novel functionalities at their core from particles synthesis to the end printed product. We free up electronics to enable a new generation of consumer electronics market products”.
GenesInk is facilitating end to end processes: not only we do develop nanomaterials and formulate inks; we also help our customers to set up printing processes and implement new printed components into their end-devices. By doing this, we are not selling the inks, we are selling new functionalities.
About the authors
GenesInk is an SME specialized in conductive and semi-conductive nanomaterials and nanoinks manufacturing for consumer electronics applications. GenesInk was created in 2010 in France and is nowadays gathering more than 20 talented persons and has sales offices and distributors in Taiwan, Japan, China, and USA. GenesInk has 12+ patents family with 60+ patents worldwide. GenesInk’s actual range of products comprises 40+ different nanoinks available on the market.
Rita FADDOUL, R&D Project manager at GenesInk since 2015:
- PhD in process engineering and printed electronics from Grenoble INP.
- Engineer in chemistry and formulation.
- Expertise in European and National projects preparation and submission.
- Skills and experience in projects management, formulation, organic synthesis, nanomaterials, photovoltaics, aeronautics, printed electronics, antennas.
Benjamin DHUIÈGE, R&D Project manager at GenesInk since 2019:
- PhD in materials science and chemistry from the University of Bordeaux.
- Engineer in Chemistry and Physics.
- National and European collaboration proposal writing for calls application.
- Skills and experience in projects management, formulation, nanotechnology, and physico-chemical characterizations.
