BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Ludwigshafen, has invested in the US startup company NanoMas Technologies Inc. NanoMas develops inks containing silver nanoparticles that are easily processed to electrical circuits in printed electronics, solar cells and special adhesives.
NanoMas Inc. raised $3.2 million (about €2.35 million) in its first round of financing, with BASF Venture Capital contributing $1.5 million (about €1.1 million). Other investors include Earthrise Capital Partners, LLC and NanoMaterials Investors, LLC. NanoMas will use the funds to expand its nanoparticle production capacity, invest further in research and development, and to support the marketing of its silver inks.
The US startup’s silver nanoparticles are suitable for use in transistors, conductors and semiconductors. Silver is highly conductive and functions better than other metals under oxidative conditions. The NanoMas chemical process enables the silver nanoparticles to be processed at low temperatures, thereby increasing efficiency and lowering cost. The process is also ideal for printing electronics on temperature-sensitive materials such as paper and plastics. Printed electronics is the basis for developing enhanced performance printed labels (radio frequency identification, RFID) which can be used for low cost labeling of consumer goods. The technology will enable RFID labels in the long term to replace the barcodes used by retailers today. In the RFID manufacturing process, the NanoMas silver nanoparticles are ideal for processing to electronic conductors.
“We are delighted to have in BASF Venture Capital an experienced technology partner that is a good match for us and can help us to achieve optimum business development,“ says Zhihao Yang, President and Chief Technology Officer of NanoMas Technologies, Inc. “This investment strengthens our development work in nanotechnology, one of BASF’s five growth clusters. Besides, the NanoMas technology complements BASF’s activities in Printed Electronics,” adds André Moreira, Investment Manager with BASF Venture Capital GmbH.