Funding boost for QinetiQ

QinetiQ

is researching the potential for printing complete electronic circuits, including transistors, resistors and capacitors, with separate backing from both the DTI and the MOD.

In the consumer sector the technology being investigated could help reduce the cost of many electronic products. In the defence field it could enable electronic functionality to be added to structural components of systems or to personal and protective clothing economically, with minimal increase in mechanical complexity and with negligible weight growth.

The DTI is providing funding of around £200,000 for an initial two-year research programme to develop materials and processes and then look at applying the technology to large displays such as flat-screen TVs and advertising boards. The MOD, through its Electronics Systems' research budget, is providing over £750,000 for a parallel funded three-year project to investigate emerging technologies for printing electronic circuits and their consequences for defence equipment.

QinetiQ says it has already shown that a soft lithography process can be used for printing the fine metal patterns needed for thin film transistors with micron detail. This process involves creating high precision 'stamps' from specialised polymers which are able to deposit carefully engineered inks with very high resolution. The ink then binds metal selectively onto the surface to form the complex structures needed by active semiconductor components. Connection between the active components is then achieved by using inks loaded with conductive material that are laid down using digital printing devices like commercial ink-jet printers or plotters.