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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 Koreas 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.

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 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 worlds 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 SMEs, 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 Printed PCB
R2R conductor, semiconductor and non-conductor ink R2R Printed micro electrode pattern
R2R Printed Active Matrix for display R2R Printed solar cell
Printed lighting (OLED and LED)

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, PE equipment http://www.dms21.co.kr/Front_eng/main

display equipment /main.html

Jusung Semiconductor, PE equipment http://www.jusung.com/EN/main/main.as

Engineering display equipment 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 Intl 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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