Predictions for Growth in Printed Electronics Applications in 2011
Historical event - replacing silicon chips
Certain small orders for printed and partly printed electronics in 2010 were of deep significance. For example, the Kovio order for disposable electronic train tickets in Los Angeles saw formidable printed nano silicon electronics in the form of over 1,000 transistors printed by inkjet and screen printing onto stainless steel foil. Being compatible with the world's most popular RFID specification ISO 14443, which was designed for silicon chips, this analog-digital circuit was a tour de force announcing to the world that a huge variety of the simpler integrated circuits can now be replaced by lower cost, more flexible and more robust printing ,albeit on stainless steel foil because of the high temperature anneal currently required.