OAS delivers key process

Oxford Advanced Surfaces delivers key process for enhanced printed electronics

30 November 2010

OntoTM surface modification technology validated with leading industrial partner to address a significant manufacturing process challenge faced by producers of printed electronics.

The global electronics market aspires to adopt printing as a manufacturing method for devices. It offers continuous high speed and simplicity over current techniques. However, one significant challenge facing the industry is to provide control over what is printed. For analogy, in the home environment when ink does not stick to photo paper it runs and streaks. In electronic manufacture when a printed electronic material does not stick to where it is applied and it flows then this leads to device failure. OntoTM surface modification technology enables control over the printing of electronic materials.

For one specific electronic device application OAS has partnered with a leading industrial company to validate the technology. OntoTM surface modification technology was used to pre-treat electronic substrates enhancing the way printed materials interacted with the substrate; improving both accuracy and control in the manufacture of device layers over current technology. The two companies will now continue development through 2011 to scale the process and to test the performance of these printed layers in working electronic devices leading toward a license agreement.

The technology has been successfully demonstrated on major substrates used in electronic devices, including plastics where control of surface adhesion during printing is desirable for next generation devices. The scope of the technology offers the opportunity for adoption in both flexible and rigid electronic devices including batteries, photovoltaics and displays.

Mike Eason, Managing Director, said "Any smears that occur during the printing of electronic materials can cause failure within device structures due to short circuits. OntoTM surface modification helps to reduce printing errors during production by introducing precise 'stick' and 'non-stick' areas to surfaces". He added, "The printed electronics market alone is forecasted to be $10B by 2015 and is expected to grow strongly to $25B by 2017. Working with this external partner has provided a strong indication that we can help them and other companies beat the challenge of moving into next-generation printed electronic devices".

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Oxford Advanced Surfaces Group Plc (OAS) develops and licenses intellectual property (IP) solutions as a "tool kit" to create engineered surface coatings and advanced materials. Our proprietary, highly reactive chemistry platform Ontoâ"¢ and advanced optical material films VISARCâ"¢, facilitate the creation of innovative products through the transformation of commodity industrial materials (e.g. polymers and/or particles), opening up new markets for the most desirable high performance advanced materials. Initial applications include advanced adhesion, anti-reflective coatings and particle delivery in markets including advanced composites and laminates, electronics, optics, displays and fast moving consumer goods.