San Jose, Calif., June 11, 2008 — The U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), a public/private partnership chartered with developing the flexible electronics and displays industry supply chain, today announced a $280,000 cost-shared award to Sigma Technologies International, Inc. to develop and demonstrate new conductive, transparent polymer-based coatings for use in flexible displays, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and other applications such as solar collectors and image sensors.  Sigma has demonstrated its ability to successfully produce these new coatings with an economical process that achieves a film thickness of as little as 2-3 nanometers. The project's goal is aimed at developing this alternative material for broader and more cost-effective commercial use.

In this project, Sigma will determine the performance of silver nanoflakes for use in preparing transparent conductive coatings.  Nanoflakes of indium tin oxide (ITO) and silver will be formulated into thin-film coatings using several conductive polymer binders. The proposed coatings are expected to have higher conductivity than conventional nanosilver-based coatings, and higher transparency over polymer-only conductive coatings or silver and ITO nanoparticle-based coatings.

"Through this project with USDC, Sigma intends to solve the current coating materials compromise we often face between achieving good conductivity and good optical properties," explained Dr. Angelo Yializis, chief executive officer of Sigma. "Our novel fabrication approach for making thin sheets of nanoflakes has the potential to achieve good conductivity without this optical trade-off."

Chief Technology Officer of USDC, Dr. Mark Hartney, commented, "An important part of this program includes developing a cost model for the nanoflake polymer combinations. To replace sputtered ITO, as used today, these nanoflakes will need to meet both technical performance and manufacturing cost targets."  Sigma will prepare a preliminary assessment of the stability of the materials under various environmental factors.

"I am pleased that Sigma Technologies has been awarded this competitive contract from USDC to provide solutions to improve the manufacturing of flexible displays and other innovative products," said United States representative, Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz., 8th District). "This award represents R&D being conducted in the Tucson area for the newly emerging flexible and printed electronics industry. Consequently, Sigma Technologies is strengthening Arizona's economic and technology-base."

Source：Imaging