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Leif Ljungqvist
Department Manager
Printed Electronics
leif.ljungqvist(at)acreo.se
ph: +46 (0)70 594 9401
Printed Electronics
Imagine the possibility to produce electronics the same way as we produce newspapers today, on a rolling strip, in one hundred kilometres an hour. Can you picture how displays, smart labels, transistors, energy sources and whole communication systems roll out from printing machines, quickly, cheaply and eco-friendly? At Acreo we can, and we do.
The world is shrinking, cities are expanding and life expectancy increases. This means a lot of new demands on social communication, healthcare and ecosystems. Printed Electronics will be able to meet many of these new requirements that arise.
The technology is an exciting research area where traditional printing tools are used to add electronic and bio-electronic functions to paper and plastics. Since organic materials can be used it also becomes possible to develop devices with fundamentally new functions such as communication with biological systems. And Acreo is in the forefront of the development.
With the view to invent innovation for growth Acreo is primarily focusing on three applications in the field of Printed Electronics: Packaging, Internet of Things and Health Care.
How about smart pharmaceutical packaging that tells you when it's time to take your medicine and ensures the correct medication, or one-time analysis systems printed on paper for self-diagnosis and self-care? Or why not whole societies where buildings, machinery and instruments can communicate with each other and with humans through wireless labels?
Want to turn tomorrow's challenges to future solutions? Welcome to Acreo, we have the expertise and the lab facilities. Visit our lab and manufacturing facility or give us a call.
Printed Electronics Now: Acreo Plays Leading Role in Combining Printing, Organic Electronics
| Video below: More about Printed Electronics |
Video below: Smart Card Demo at Cartes 2011 Paris |
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Acreo has established a close collaboration with Linköping University (LiU). LiU is responsible for fundamental research and Acreo is responsible for refining the research results into demonstrators, manufacturing processes and prototypes. In parallel, a printing facility, PEA-Manufacturing, has been established where the industry can test the viability of Printed Electronics for new applications.
Webshape
WebShape is a start up company that is exploiting a new environmentally friendly and low cost method for making foil based antennas, interconnects, heaters etc. Click for more information.
PaperDisplay ™
PaperDisplay ™ is a business area within Acreo with the mission to commersialise Paper Displays. Click for more information.
Printed EL displays
All-printed electroluminescent displays have been utilized by Cloetta in grocery stores to improve sales, click for more information.
PEA-M
Printed Electronics Arena Manufacturing (PEA-M) is a production lab and incubator for Printed Electronics. PEA-M is open to anyone that would like to test printed electronics in their products and processes; start-up companies as well as established companies, universities and institutes in Sweden and the rest of the world alike. Read more...
Clean room
Acreo has access to the Linköping University clean room lab in Norrköping, click for more information.
Electrical characterization
With equipment for characterization of high speed wireless components and system as well as more conventional electronics. Read more about the equipment...
Current Projects
3PLAST
3PLAST, supported by the European Commission (FP7-ICT), is aiming at the development of novel polymer sensor concepts based on pyro- and piezo-electrical effects. The sensing of temperature and pressure fluctuations is then utilized in flexible all-printed large area sensors.
COLAE
Commercialization of Organic and Large Area Electronics, is a coordinated action financed within FP7-ICT-2011-7. The main objective is to promote the commercial exploitation of OLAE technology for the benefit of European industry and business and for the welfare of European countries.
BioEGOFET
BioEGOFET, supported by the European Commission (FP7-ICT), is aiming at the development of an electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistor capable of detecting biological markers. The BioEGOFET device can then be used in low-cost disposable biosensing applications.
Bling
Bling is a development project carried out in collaboration with De La Rue International Ltd. The aim of this project is to produce by reel-to-reel processes, a system for verification of security documents and other documents of value. The system should be powered by energy harvested from RF-radiating sources, and the key development challenge is to achieve high performance of the rectifier at high frequencies.
Inga
The Inga project is focusing on the development of electrochemical transistors, electrochromic pixels and patterning techniques such that active and passive matrix addressed displays can be manufactured. The targeted display fill factor is approximately 90 % at a pixel size of 1 x 1 sq. mm.
OBOE
OBOE, funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), is a strategic research center within organic bioelectronics. The goal is to develop tools based on organic bioelectronics that can help biologists to answer questions related to cell-signalling, stem cells and neural interconnects.
SMART-EC
SMART-EC aims at the development of self powered (energy harvesting and storage) EC device integrating EC thin film transistor component on flexible substrate for energy saving, comfort and security in automotive, e-cards and smart packaging sectors. Project is funded under Seventh Framework Programme.
PRODI
Acreo is a partner in project PRODI, an EU FP7 Coordination Action 2008 – 2011 with the objective to integrate European printing, coating, laser, ‘advanced processing’ machinery manufacturers, production line integrators and process automation industry to work together towards European excellence in R2R Polymer and Printed Electronics manufacturing, measurement and automation. Read more.....
Finished Projects
PAELLA
The project conducted during the years 1999-2002 constituted a marriage between newly developed electrochromic materials and established techniques used in paper conversion. The outcome of the project was a number of demonstrators showing possible future low-cost applications such as, for example, EC Displays and Electronic ID functions.
Polynet
Acreo participated in the NoE PolyNet (Network of Excellence for the Exploitation of Organic and Large Area Electronics), a part of a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Directorate General of Information Technology & Media and 4 Collaboration Action Projects within the seventh Framework Programme.
Printed Electronics
Antennas - Interconnects
Acreo has developed a new technology for patterning of flexible materials, such as laminated flex foils.
Displays
The display is structured as an electrochemical cell with a pixel electrode and a counter electrode connected to a solidified electrolyte. The electrodes, which are made from PEDOT:PSS, serve both as electrochromic material and electrical conductor.
Electrolyte-gated transistors
Electrochemical transistors and electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors are being developed at Acreo and Linköping University. Both transistor types are gated via an electrolyte serving as the dielectric layer, which ensures low-voltage operation at around 1V.
Sensors
Acreo is working with various kinds of sensor technologies. Together with partners in 3PLAST, a project within FP7, Acreo has developed all-printed pyro- and piezoelectric sensor devices. In addition to this, Linköping University and Acreo have together also developed a humidity sensor in which the readout is performed remotely.
Bioelectronics
BioEGOFET
A BioEGOFET sensor combines the specificity of a defined bio-probe with the high sensitivity of an organic field-effect transistor using an aqueous solution as the gate dielectric. Acreo develops manufacturing techniques that promises for the fabrication of disposable low-cost biosensors on flexible substrates.
Ion Pumps
Acreo is working on manufacturing techniques for the electrophoretic ion pumps developed within the OBOE project. The ion pump can deliver ions/molecules with spatial and temporal control, without transport of liquid.
Surface switches
The surface switches Acreo are working on are based on conducting polymers and have the possibility to change its surface properties.
Printed Electronics
Acreo is primarily focusing on three application areas within the field of printed electronics: Packaging, Internet of Things and Health Care.
Bioelectronics
Since cells communicate with each other using ion currents at different frequencies, organic electronics can be used to translate electronic signals into ionic signals and thereby communicate with cells.
Manufacturing
Keys to success in Printed Electronics and Bioelectronics are the development of manufacturing processes, in particular reel-to-reel-based, and integration. Acreo has long experience in inkjet, screen and flexo printing processes for both individual components and integrated systems. A very important resource is PEA Manufacturing, which is a green house for the development of prototypes and small scale production of Printed Electronics and Bioelectronics. PEA Manufacturing is open to anyone that would like to test printed electronics or Bioelectronics in their products and processes.
Printed Electronics Arena
The vision of PEA is to create sustainable, long-term growth within the Norrköping region through commercialization and exploitation of the extensive research and development activities at Acreo and Linköping University in the new technological field of Printed Electronics and Bioelectronics.
7-segment displays
This simple 7-segment paper display contains only three layers; the electrochromic polymer and the electrolyte layers are printed and the encapsulation layer is deposited by printing or lamination. The resulting display is robust and can even be operated after folding or wrinkling.
Cell growth
Surface switches are used as a tool to control and study the adhesion of cells on a surface.
EL for authentication
Electroluminescent ink can be printed under a graphic overlayer making it invisible. Authentication of e.g. tickets can be verified at the entrance by using a simple reader.
Christmas Star
The Dry Phase Patterning (DPP) process makes it easy to create a substrate with conductors in any shape.
eID
Acreo has developed a proof-of-concept for write-once-read-many memories, ID-tags for reel-to-reel processing, using printing technologies. eID print is available for licensing from Acreo AB. Read more.....
Energy harvesting
Electromagnetic radiation is harvested in a loop or meander antenna, a printed diode rectifies the current and the resulting net charge in the system is used to enlighten a printed display. The purpose is to show a hidden message, e.g. for authentication when the radiating source is close to the system.
LED on tape
Imagine that you can buy roll of tape with LEDs irradiating in whatever color you like. You can put the tape behind your TV set as back lighting, or under your car as a cool effect when cruising downtown, or on your book shelf as decoration.
Living logotypes
Living logotypes denote dynamic electrochromic displays that are updated at a frequency of a few Hertz, click for video clip demonstration.
Lottery tickets
Acreo has together with a SME company created a concept for printed lottery tickets. In the simplest version it is an all printed ticket but in more sophisticated versions there is a possibility to integrate a silicon chip that handles different functionalities.
Matrix-addressed displays
Recent research activities have resulted in the manufacturing of printed passive and active matrix addressed electrochromic displays. They are highly interesting in various kinds of applications, mainly because of the ability to show arbitrary messages.
Printed pyro-and piezo-electric sensor systems
All-printed systems based on pyro- and piezo-electric sensors, where temperature or pressure fluctuations are sensed by the respective sensor. The sensor signal controls the conduction state of an electrochemical transistor, which in turn determines the colour state of an electrochromic display.
System on a sheet
Acreo has demonstrated all printed systems including the integration of displays, transistors, push buttons and battery.
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Contact
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Göran Gustafsson
CTO Printed Electronics
goran.gustafsson(at)acreo.se
ph: +46 (0)70-582 2904
Hot Topics
Simplified manufacturing of electrochemical transistors by using a self-aligning laser ablation method was recently published in Advanced Functional Materials.
An article about the improved color contrast in electrochromic displays was recently published in Organic Electronics.
News
Acreo is part of Swedish ICT together with Interactive Institute, Santa Anna, SICS and Viktoria Institute.