With the development of a new silver ink, Xerox scientists have created a way for the commercialization and manufacturing of printable electronics. Printable electronics offers manufacturers a way to add “intelligence” or computing power to a wide range of surfaces, such as plastic or fabric. This development will aid the commercialization of new applications, such as “smart” pill boxes that track how much medication a patient has taken or display screens that roll up to fit into a briefcase.

Integrated circuits are made up of three components—a semiconductor, a conductor and a dielectric element—and currently are manufactured in silicon chip fabricating factories. By creating the silver ink to print the conductor, Xerox has developed all three of the materials necessary for printing plastic circuits.

Using Xerox’s new technology, circuits can be printed like a continuous-feed document. In addition, scientists have improved their previously developed semiconductor ink, increasing its reliability by formulating the ink so that the molecules align themselves to better conduct electricity than the previous formula.

The printed electronics materials, developed at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada, enable product manufacturers to put electronic circuits on plastics, film, and textiles. Printable circuits could be used in a broad range of products, including low-cost radio frequency identification tags, light and flexible e-readers and signage, sensors, solar cells, and novelty applications (including wearable electronics).

R&D samples of the materials, including the new conductive silver ink, are available by contacting Xerox.