In order for plastic electronics to be printed in large numbers, the conductive inks behind them need to be cost-effective. If they are not, new technologies based on organic substrates may never make it to market.
Conductive inks enable a number of technologies, and will allow some existing ones to be manufactured in different ways. Being able to print a circuit, RFID tag, security label or sensor, without the need for additional, expensive production equipment will ultimately lead to better electronics at lower prices.
Currently, any conductive inks that are being used for printed electronics are based on silver particles. Silver offers strong conductivity, even when oxidised. However, the problem with this is the price of the material.
According to Lux Research, silver prices have changed significantly over the past decade, from around $5 per troy ounce (around 31.1g) in 2003, to nearly $45 per troy ounce in 2011. Therefore, with silver inks containing a 70% loading by weight, the metal makes up around 80% of the cost of the product.
Silver-coated copper uses less than 10% silver loading; however the processing costs are higher, which means savings of only 10–15% on standard silver inks. Nanoparticle inks are expensive too, at around $4,000/kg, due again to higher processing costs. Lux Research predicts that while these costs will decrease, by 2017, a silver nanoparticle ink will still cost over $2,700/kg.
