Linde Electronics, the global electronics business of The Linde Group, today launches a revolutionary new carbon nanotube ink to drive innovation in the development of next generation displays, sensors and other electronic devices. Linde’s carbon nanotube inks can be used to manufacture completely new technologies, such as a smartphone with a screen that rolls up like a window shade and a see-through GPS device embedded in the windshield of a car.
Carbon nanotubes with only 10,000th the diameter of a human hair are an allotrope of carbon like graphite and diamond, and they have unique physical and electronic properties. These include a higher thermal conductivity than diamond; greater mechanical strength than steel (orders of magnitude by weight); and a larger electrical conductivity than copper. It is due to these properties that carbon nanotubes will enable electronic device manufacturers develop more innovative electronic devices.
To help device manufacturers and the research and development community to explore the full potential of carbon nanotube based technologies, Linde is making its nanotube inks available to developers. These nanotube inks contain individual carbon nanotubes and are produced without damaging or shortening the nanotubes and therefore preserve the unique nanotube properties. This landmark development drastically improves the performance of transparent conductive thin films made from the inks and opens the door for the development of nanotube applications in not only consumer electronics, but also the healthcare sector and sensor manufacturing.
“While we’ve seen a lot of excitement around nanotubes in the past ten years, we’ve not yet seen a commercially viable nanotube solution in the market because of challenges in the processing of this great material,” said Dr Sian Fogden, Market and Technology Development Manager for Linde Electronics’ nanomaterials unit. “Our nanotube technology and our unique nanotube inks overcome these challenges, paving the way for completely new types of high-functionality electronic devices.”
Linde, which develops and supplies specialist materials and gases for the world’s leading electronic manufacturers, is in the final development stages with its single wall carbon nanotube technology. Alongside the launch of the nanotube ink into the development community, the company will also provide its nanotube ink at large scale directly to electronic device manufacturers.
About The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 62,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2012 financial year, Linde generated revenue of EUR 15.280 bn. The strategy of the Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.