DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Inorganic and Composite Printed Electronics 2008-2018" report to its offering.

This report is suitable for all companies developing or interested in the opportunity of printed or thin film electronics materials, manufacturing technologies or complete device fabrication and integration. It looks at inorganic technologies beyond conventional silicon for semiconductors, conductors, displays, photovoltaics and much more. Company profiles and forecasts are given.

The future $300 billion market for printed electronics is emerging via thin film electronics. The contribution of organic materials to this is greatly publicised and it has attracted over one thousand participants already. However, the best devices being developed usually rely on inorganic or combined inorganic/organic technology that is little publicised. The more select groups developing these inorganic materials and devices have a great future.

It is often argued that the inorganic options are interim, because the progress is coming to an end whereas organics are "future proof". Nothing could be further from the truth. For conductors with vastly better conductance and cost, for the best printed batteries, for quantum dot devices and for transistor semiconductors with ten times the mobility, look to the new inorganics.

That is the emerging world of new nanoparticle metal and alloy inks that are magnitudes superior in cost, conductivity and stability, such as the flexible zinc oxide based transistor semiconductors working at ten times the frequency and with best stability and life, along with many other inorganic materials.

Detailed forecasts
In 2008, it is found that the amount spent on inorganic electronic components and inorganic materials for composite components will be $861 million, more than that spent on organic electronics. Much of this is in fairly mature markets, metal flake ink used for conductors in heated windscreens, membrane keyboards and circuit boards; and disposable sensors for the multi billion glucose sensor labels sold yearly. However, also making an impact in 2008 in this figure are electrophoretic, electroluminescent and electrochromic displays, laminar batteries and thin film photovoltaics such as CIGS and CDTe devices.

In 2008, inorganic semiconductors will begin to be sold from companies such as Kovio for RFID tags, being able to perform to existing RFID tag standards thanks to much higher mobilities than organic semiconductors.

It is found that, in 2018, of a total $46.94 billion market (which includes printed and thin film displays, logic, memory, photovoltaics, power and sensors), the amount spent on inorganic components as a whole or in composites with organics will be approximately 49.3 percent or $23.15 billion. This highlights the importance of inorganic printed electronics and the opportunity for companies to be involved.