Printed Electronics Technology
Printed electronics is an all-encompassing term for the
printing method used to create electronic devices by printing on a variety of
substrates. Originally, printed electronics related to organic or plastic
electronics that use one or more inks made of carbon-based compounds. As demand
for wearable devices and thinner electronics expands, printed electronics are
being used to form flexible keyboards, antennas, electronic skin patches, and
more. Printed electronics technology has evolved over time, and now inkjet printers are capable of printing electrical circuits
quite inexpensively and quickly. In short, printed electronics is one of the
fastest growing technologies today and is becoming invaluable to several
industries including healthcare, aerospace, media, and transit.
Printed Electronics Applications
Printed electronics are being
used in more products as the technology continues to advance. Today,
flexible screens, intelligent labels and packaging, interactive books and
posters, and even upholstery are being created with printed electronics. As the
substrates grow thinner, printed materials become thin, light, and flexible
enough to be integrated into existing production lines.
The market is catching up to the technology, according to
Dr. Harry Zervos, principal analyst and business development manager for North
America for IDTechEx: “The market for printed and flexible electronics is set
to reach over $73 billion by 2025… Not all separate types of printed
electronics will share equally in that big market – as I always say, printed
electronics is an umbrella term and some markets will reach maturity sooner
than others – but already, OLEDs, conductive inks in PV applications and
printed glucose sensors are billion dollar markets that are set to grow.”
And, as Thin Film Electronics’ chief strategy officer
Jennifer Ernst points out, the market for printed electronics is growing
because the Internet of Things is expanding and requires low-cost, lightweight
technology that can sense, store information securely, and transmit data. For
these reasons, printed memory, sensors, and communications devices will play a
part in the IoT market that is expected to reach $7.1 trillion by 2020.
Researchers continue to evolve printed electronics. For
example, MIT engineers are working with a new type of printed
electronics that involves an intricate printing process and stamping technique
capable of printing transistors small enough to control individual pixels in
high-resolution displays and touch screens. These engineers have succeeded in
creating a stamp that prints electronic inks onto rigid or flexible surfaces.
Their new printing technique delivers an inexpensive, fast way to manufacture
electronic surfaces for applications that have yet to be created.
Benefits of Printed Electronics
Printed electronics have become secure, flexible, and
cost-effective, all of which make them appealing to a broad range of
industries. Printed circuitry has the potential to reduce costs
and technical constraints typically associated with mass producing electronics.
Printed electronics also require fewer input materials and less energy to work
with them. And, printed electronics pave the way for flexible devices that
people previously may not have thought possible. For example, companies are
working on using printed electronics for identifying banknotes, credit cards,
legal documents, and other items with unique printed signatures. Another
industry benefiting from printed electronics advancements is photovoltaics.
Printed electronics have the potential to significantly change solar power
projects, thanks to less expensive polymer electronics.
Overall, the benefits of printed electronics include
- Low cost
- Attractive and flexible form factor
- Ease of production
- Ease of integration
- Facilitating widespread development of non-conventional
functional electronic devices including flexible displays, smart labels,
animated posters, active clothing, and more
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