Authors: Laszlo Izso. Matthias Carnoy. Nandan Singh Ruhela. Benjamin Borie. Mira Baraket. Maksym Plakhotnyuk Introduction: ZnO from an Applications point of view Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a versatile semiconductor material that has attracted broad interest in electronics and sensing. It features a direct wide bandgap of ~3.37 eV, making it useful for UV optoelectronic devices like LEDs and photodetectors [1]. ZnO is also abundant, low-cost, and chemically stable, and it can be synthesized via relatively easy methods all contributing to its popularity in research and industry [2]. Beyond optics, ZnO can be doped to achieve high conductivity (transparent conducting films) and used in thin-film transistors (TFTs) as an n-type semiconductor channel. In microelectronics, ZnO and related oxides have been explored for transparent and flexible transistors, as well as varistors and UV sensors. Its wurtzite crystal structure lacks inversion symmetry, giving ZnO a strong electromechanical coupling it is one of the few semiconductors that is also piezoelectric [3]. This means mechanical strain can induce an electric charge and vice versa, enabling ZnO to serve in mechanical actuators and sensors [3]. In MEMS/NEMS devices, polycrystalline ZnO thin films (often c-axis oriented) are used for piezoelectric actuators, micro-resonators, and energy harvesters. For example, ZnO thin films form the active layer in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices and bulk acoustic resonators for filters and sensors ...

We shine the spotlight on a relatively unknown yet vital component in the printed electronics sector: the substrate. Interview with Christophe Geffray, CEO of Normandy Coating, a company based in Dieppe on the Normandy coast in France. Christophe Geffray, CEO Christophe, you are the CEO of a company specialising in polymer film surface treatment. Could you briefly describe your know-how? Christophe: We have two production units, in Arques-La-Bataille near Dieppe: one .has been specialising in the chemical coating and heat stabilisation of polyester films for over 50 years. We also have a Plasma coating unit (NORCOP) which enables us to offer nanometric molecular coating on a wider range of substrates from PET, PEI, PEN, PI and PC to paper, etc. To put it simply, we give naturally inert films or paper the properties requested by our customers: Adhesion Printability Transfer/release “Barrier” effects Thermal stability Most importantly though, we are recognised for our ability to provide surface treatments tailored to the specific needs of our customers. If you need finely tuned adhesion, an instant release effect or a water-repellent film which can still be printed on, we are there! We are Exhibiting in Berlin. Visit our booth at the TechBlick event on 22-23 October 2025 in Berlin. Contact us for your special discount coupon to attend List of properties added to the substrate In your opinion, why is the substrate and its surface treatment so important in the printed electroni...

Smarter. Cleaner. Faster. Cheaper. Autonomous.
Author: Masoud Mahjouri-Samani info@nanoprintek.com In every industry, government, and research lab, there is a common struggle. A researcher has a bold idea — a new material, a new device, a new way to connect the world — but the path from idea to realization is paved with many obstacles. Complex inks that take from months to years to formulate. Unthinkable cost of ink. Fragile chemistries that clog and contaminate. Post-processing steps that delay progress and drive up costs. In the end, too much time, too much money, and too much waste stand between vision and reality. At NanoPrintek, we asked a simple question: what if all those barriers could be removed? We are Exhibiting in Berlin. Visit our booth at the TechBlick event on 22-23 October 2025 in Berlin. Contact us for your special discount coupon to attend From Raw Materials to Reality Our answer is the world’s first ink-free multi-material printing platform — a system that bypasses inks entirely, printing directly from solid raw materials. Metals, ceramics, dielectrics, composites — all transformed into pure, functional patterns in real time. There are no binders, no solvents, no drying or curing stages. Just direct, clean, and precise printing. The impact is immediate: Devices built in hours, not months Materials costs slashed by 10–1000X Near-zero chemical waste, near-zero compromises A Platform That Learns But freedom from inks was only the beginning. With the launch o...

Author: Thibaut Soulestin, PhD; Technology Manager Printed Electronics; Henkel Adhesive Technologies; thibaut.soulestin@henkel.com Henkel Adhesive Technologies holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer business. As a global leader in the adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings markets, Henkel has developed a large material portfolio of LOCTITE® conductive inks and coatings. The LOCTITE® Printed Electronics portfolio offers more than 100 different material solutions. Among those, Henkel silver inks are known to be exceptionally reliable, easy to use, and require only simple handling. This portfolio refers to products with proven superior performance in terms of conductivity and printability. This article focuses on a handful of silver inks to provide insights into the selection of the most cost-effective inks for various applications, such as membrane switches, capacitive touch sensors, heaters, and antennas. It introduces the latest Henkel developments in very high conductive inks with LOCTITE® ECI 1017 and cost-efficient silver-plated copper inks with the LOCTITE® ECI 4000 series. Efficient manufacturing of hybrid electronics is also enabled by proven compatibility with a range of electrically conductive adhesives or low-temperature solder pastes. We are Exhibiting in Berlin. Visit our booth at the TechBlick event on 22-23 October 2025 in Berlin. Contact us for your special discount coupon to attend 1. Silver Inks Overview 1.1 Main proper...

Contact: Max Scherf, Maximilian.Scherf@profactor.at Reimagining the entire life-cycle of electronics—from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management—is essential for building a sustainable economy and society. The EU-funded HyPELignum project addresses this challenge by exploring a holistic approach for manufacturing electronics with net zero carbon emissions, centred around additive manufacturing and wood-derived materials. Methodology Materials By creating novel materials derived from wood feedstock, such as lignocellulosic composite boards, bio-derived resins, and functional compounds incorporating abundant, low-impact metals, a transition towards green electronics can be realized. These new materials expand the technological possibilities for electronics while maintaining a strong focus on environmental responsibility. A key material in this development is Cellulose Nano Fibrils (CNF), known for its excellent mechanical performance, ease of application, biodegradability, and eco-friendly nature. CNF has emerged as a promising material for eco-electronics due to its unique properties. Initial research at Empa demonstrated the feasibility of using CNF from delignified pulp (ECF) for eco-electronics applications. The prepared CNF samples exhibited robust mechanical strength and stability in indoor environments, providing a strong foundation for further development. While CNF-based ecoPCBs show strong mechanical properties comparable to FR4 PCBs, they face challeng...

Authors: Caitlin Ho, Michelle Ntola, Oliver Semple, Neil Vyas, iGii, marketing@igii.uk The focus and development of new advanced materials has significantly increased as technology has evolved and increased the demand for high-performance and sustainable solutions for integration into new technologies.
3D carbon nanomaterials are a versatile and adaptable material with potential to revolutionise multiple industries. The combination of properties such as high surface area, electrical and thermal conductivity and anti-fouling, make 3D carbon films exceptional materials. For example, in applications like sensing, advanced materials are paving the way for versatile, high-performing, miniaturised, and low-power consumption platforms applicable across a wide variety of fields. Whilst in applications such as heating elements, energy and catalysis, they offer a more cost-effective, efficient and more sustainable solution by improving performance and lifespan. iGii’s pure, porous, 3D carbon nanomaterial, Gii, offers a high-performance, cost-effective and more sustainable solution for number of applications across sensing, energy, thermal and more. We are Exhibiting in Berlin. Visit our booth at the TechBlick event on 22-23 October 2025 in Berlin. Contact us for your special discount coupon to attend Sensing 3D carbon nanomaterials are revolutionising the sensing industry. With its excellent properties and flexibility in design it offers a solution that enables diverse application an...

H. Richter, D. Bischoff, E. A. Jackson, R. M. Carty, H. Ghiassi, T. A. Lada, M. J. Ricci, M. Kollosche and P. C. Brookes Nano-C, Inc., 33 Southwest Park, Westwood, MA 02090, USA, email: hrichter@nano-c.com New global energy demand is being driven by vehicle electrification, datacenters, and AI computing. According to IEEE, over 70% of all newly installed energy generation capacity in 2024 came from photovoltaics. Traditional solar cells based on silicon and cadmium telluride were key to this rapid adoption, however, these universal technologies are reaching their practical conversion efficiency. The primary solution to offer a step change in efficiency while promising to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) comes from the use of perovskite-based solar cells in tandem with traditional technologies. In addition, the implementation of organic thin film PV as well as flexible perovskite PV enables installations and integrations not feasible with traditional glass-based architectures. We are Exhibiting in Berlin. Visit our booth at the TechBlick Perovskite Connect event co-located with the Future of Electronics RESHAPED on 22-23 October 2025 in Berlin. Contact us for your special discount coupon to attend In order to meet increasing global energy demand while also seeking to achieve reductions in global CO₂ emissions, a new generation of organic and perovskite photovoltaics are needed to: a) enhance the performance of existing, e.g., silicon solar PV and b) allow for the...

Author: Jon E. Carlé, infinityPV ApS, jegc@infintiypv.com How do you take a breakthrough fuel cell material from the lab bench to the factory floor without losing performance, consistency, or time? The answer lies in how you scale your process. While headlines often focus on gigafactories and industrial roll-to-roll (R2R) systems, the real work of scaling starts much earlier. In fact, it starts in the lab. Before any fuel cell can be mass-produced, it must first survive the transition from small-batch experiments to continuous processing, and that transition is where many innovations stumble. The secret to success is not just in the chemistry. It is in recreating real production conditions as early as possible, using lab-scale R2R equipment that mirrors industrial workflows. This article explores why laboratory-scale roll-to-roll fuel cell processing is the cornerstone of scalable production, how it bridges the gap between research and manufacturing, and what choices such as coating methods can make or break your scale-up efforts. Setting the Stage for Scalable Fuel Cell Manufacturing The capability to coat, dry, and assemble fuel cell layers continuously on flexible substrates brings benefits in speed, cost-effectiveness, and uniformity. However, while the long-term promise of roll-to-roll fuel cell production is evident, its success depends greatly on what occurs at the laboratory level. Before materials advance to pilot lines or full production, they must be tested, optimi...