David Savastano, Editor04.07.21
Conductive inks and pastes are key to the creating of flexible and hybrid electronics.
Conductive materials allow the printed portion of the device to function electronically. It is also a sizable market: estimates place the conductive ink segment at more than $2 billion.
Conductive inks can be made from any material that is, well, conductive. Silver and carbon-based inks are the primary choices, with copper of interest. However, copper has issues with oxidation that make it less ideal for printing. Nanoparticle-based and particle-free alternatives are also emerging, but they are higher cost.
Dr. Matthew Dyson, technology analyst with IDTechEx, notes that IDTechEx estimates the current conductive ink market size as $2.3 billion, with silver the primary material for conductive inks.
“Almost 80% is silver flake-based ink that is used to make the conductive fingers on silicon solar panels,” Dr. Dyson reported. “While the
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