Silver circuits

BASF Venture Capital has made an investment in NanoMas Technologies, a US start-up company that has developed inks containing silver nanoparticles that can be used to make printed circuits.

BASF Venture Capital

has made a substantial investment in

NanoMas Technologies

, a Vestal,

New York

start-up company that has developed inks containing silver nanoparticles that can be used in the manufacture of printed circuits.

NanoMas raised $3.2m (£2.1m) in its first round of financing, with BASF Venture Capital contributing $1.5m. Other investors include Earthrise Capital Partners and NanoMaterials Investors.

NanoMas plans to use the funds to expand its nanoparticle production capacity, invest further in research and development and support the marketing of its silver inks.

The low-temperature processing technique that the company has developed allows its customers to print electronic circuits on temperature-sensitive materials such as paper and plastics, which can then be used for labelling consumer goods.

The company believes that eventually its technology will enable RFID labels to replace the bar codes that are widely used by retailers today.