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Printed Electronics in Korea Introduction Printed electronics is the production of electronic elements through a printing process using functional ink. In other words, unlike the traditional production process of electronics, printed electronics use the printing technology similar to which is used to print newspapers, magazines and posters. An easy example can be Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) which is expected to replace the barcode in the near future. Current barcodes can only be read optically within 10 centimeter distance from the reader. However, RFID can be read at five meter distance. That means that items in a supermarket shopping cart can be paid for by customers when they pass the reader. The price of RFID will drop when printed electronics technology is disseminated. At that point, the current barcode system is expected to be replaced by RFID. Besides the example of RFID, printed electronics can be the new paradigm in the display, cell, light, sensor and organic field-effect transistor (OFET) industry. See figure 1.

Figure 1. Application of Printed Electronics in various industries

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Through the development of ink materials and the improvement of printing technology, printed electronics can be applied in various fields and could replace some elements of the manufacturing process of electronic devices such as lithography. Research on printed electronics is being done in Korea, Europe, United States and Japan. Backed by support of the Korean government and strong allied industries, it seems that printed electronics will be one of Korea’s next growth engines.

Details The advantages of printed electronics are manifold. Compared to the existing electronics production process, the process of printed electronics is low-cost, large scale, low-temperature, high speed, simple and eco-friendly. First of all, the elimination of expensive vacuum equipment cuts the cost significantly. The continuous process that becomes possible this way, further increases the speed of the entire procedure. Reduction of electricity needs lowers the energy consumption. Printed electronics also have less chemical waste during the process. See figure 2.

Figure 2. Comparison between the process of lithography and Printed Electronics

Recently, Korea took the lead in establishing the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC 119 and became the secretariat. IE CTC 119 covers the standardization of terminology, materials, processes, equipments, products and health, safety, environmental issues in the field of printed electronics. The strength of Korea in chemistry, electronics and semiconductor technology is backing the development of printed electronics. The current technology level of Korea means it can assemble core parts and build systems, but still ink, printer head and software need to be imported. 2

The Korean government is supporting the industry to secure the technologies and to become independent from import. Based on the support, a number of research institutes, universities and companies are into the various researches in Printed Electronics. Government support The Office of Strategic R&D Planning under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) selected the Printed Electronics Total Solution Development project as a part of the Future Flagship Program (FFP). See figure 3.

Figure 3. Printed Electronics Total Solution Development

The background of the project is as below. - Total solution, from materials, parts and complete products to service, helps the cooperation between small-medium sized companies and large companies to maintain a healthy industrial environment. - Korea is active in industries that depend heavily on display, IT and solar cell technology. - Korea has several core technologies such as roll-based printing and coating, and also equipment technology. When new technology such as patterning technology is gained, this will result in a global leadership in the market. The project is expected to bring in 52 billion Euros of sales, 34 billion Euros of export, 17 billion Euros of investment in facilities and 64,000 new jobs by 2025.

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Leading Korean Research institutes 1. Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) Aiming at development of world’s top-class, creative, future-oriented technologies, the Department of Printed Electronics at KIMM is conducting R&D activities focused on contact/non-contact printing and coating processes and equipments, and application technologies for flexible printed electronic devices. Research area: - Core elemental technologies for roll-based continuous production systems; - Printing, coating, and patterning processes and equipment technologies; - Technology for flexible printed electronic devices. Deliverable: - R2R (roll-to-roll) and R2P (roll-to-plate) printing technology and equipment for printed electronics - Next generation flexible display patterning equipment using electrostatic and piezoelectric inkjet in R2R - Printing process and equipment technologies for manufacturing RFID tags and printed sensors - A continuous printing manufacturing systems for solution-based, low-cost, nano thin-film solar cells and super capacitors Example: - Gravure-offset printed silver grating. See figure 4. - Laser Engraving on Printing Rolls for Printed Electronics. See figure 5.

Figure 4. Gravure-offset printed silver grating by KIMM

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Figure 5. Laser Engraving on Printing Rolls for Printed Electronics by KIMM

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2. Korea Printed Electronics Center (KPEC) by Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) Korea Printed Electronics Center (KPEC) is focusing on developing inkjet printers, aerosol deposition, roll to roll and drop watcher technology for micro-patterning process and equipment development. See figure 6.

Figure 6. Korea Printed Electronics Center (KPEC) specialized in micro patterning

Services of KPEC: - Supporting the establishment and development of the processes and equipment of printed electronics/next generation display    

Build-up equipment for development of printed electronics equipment Build-up equipment for printed electronics process (e.g. inkjet, Roll to roll and AD) and analysis Infrastructure for evaluation of printed electronic, semiconductor/display/element Technical support for core process of printed electronics

- Developing new items through cooperation with regional industry 

V-sensor (RFID, memory and batteries), E-paper, Smart ID

- Training of specialist and penetration of technology   

Building domestic and international network Development of education and training system Building a database of printed electronics technology and test results

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3. Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) The Stretchable Interface Research Team is developing the core technology for stretchable and soft electronics based on printing technology to realize next generation displays. The research topics can be categorized into two parts: 1) Core technology of materials, devices and processes for fabricating flexible and stretchable devices necessary for the driving the next generation display backplane; 2) Development of a stretchable module, structure and circuit for next generation display. See figure 7.

Figure 7. Research on stretchable interface by ETRI

Universities One of the leading printed electronics universities in Korea is Sunchon National University. Its Fusion Green Technology Regional Research Center provides a one-stop service for SME’s, the development of printed electronics from production of electric ink, the design of printed electronics to characteristics analysis. Their goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of small-medium sized enterprises (SME) and fostering specialized venture companies. See figure 8.

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Their specialized areas are: R2R Printed clear electrode (touch screen and solar cell) R2R conductor, semiconductor and non-conductor ink R2R Printed Active Matrix for display Printed lighting (OLED and LED)

R2R Printed PCB R2R Printed micro electrode pattern R2R Printed solar cell

Figure 8. Research area of Fusion Green Technology Regional Research Center

Other leading research at universities: - Flexible Display Roll to Roll Research Center (FDRC) at Konkuk University (http://home.konkuk.ac.kr:8080/cms/Site/jsp/fdrckonkuk/index.jsp - Korean only), - Advanced Display Research Center at Kyunghee University (http://adrc.khu.ac.kr/- Korean only) - Graduate School of Flexible and Printable Electronics at Junbik University (http://eprint.jbnu.ac.kr/ - in Korean) are also active in Printed Electronics.

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Companies Large Korean companies are already actively responding to developments in the field of printed electronics. LG Chem, Cheil Instustries and Doosan Electro-Mechanics are active in the printed electronics material industry. LG Display, Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electro-Mechanics are active in printed electronics application. Not only large companies, but also small medium sized enterprises (SME) are also responding swiftly. See figure 9. Company

Product

Field

Website

DMS

Semiconductor, display equipment

PE equipment

http://www.dms21.co.kr/Front_eng/main /main.html

Jusung Engineering

Semiconductor, display equipment

PE equipment

http://www.jusung.com/EN/main/main.as p

EXAX

FPCB, RFID

PE process

http://exax.co.kr/eng/

InkTech

Inkjet applications

PE ink

http://www.inktec.com/english/

Hicel

Circuit board

PE process

http://www.hicel.com/

Figure 9. Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) in Printed Electronics

More companies can be found in the Korea Printed Electronics Association (KOPEA) website: http://www.kopea.kr/PT2/index3.htm (Korean only).

Conferences and Exhibitions Printed Electronics & Electronic Materials Show (http://www.pekorea.org/ ) Korea Int’l Printing & Graphics Industry Show (http://www.kipes.com/eng/) Korea Printed Electronics Association (http://www.kopea.kr/ - Korean only) Korea Display Industry Association (http://www.kdia.org/new/eng/)

Sources and more information Report: Printed Electronics Technology Trend and Market Forecast (2011~2020) Display Bank – www.displayback.com Report: Printed Electronics, Future of the Electronics Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) - http://www.etri.re.kr/

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HelloDD DaeDeokNet - http://english.hellodd.com/ Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) - http://www.kimm.re.kr/english/html/index.php Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) - http://www.mke.go.kr Sunchon National University, Fusion Green Technology Regional Research Center http://rrc.sunchon.ac.kr/

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