27.03.2017 change 27.03.2017

Conductive lines are already over 400 times thinner than hair

Ultra-thin conductive lines can now be more than 400 times thinner than human hair. The company XTPL has perfected their printing technology, reaching the line width of 124 nanometers. They can be used to produce flexible solar cells or displays with unprecedented image sharpness.

Flexible solar cells that can even more effectively convert sunlight into electricity or liquid crystal displays with unprecedented image sharpness and depth. These are just two examples of technologies that use transparent conductive layers: transparent to light and at the same time perfectly conductive.

XTPL technology - ultra-precision printing of nanomaterials, which enables the production of such layers, is being developed by a company with the same name - XTPL. The width of printed conductive lines has reached 124 nanometers.

"Until now we have been printing lines 100 times thinner than human hair. Today they are 400 times thinner. This is a huge step for us, which shows how revolutionary our method is. Thinner lines open up new possibilities for XTPL technology" - said Dr. Filip Granek from XTPL.

XTPL technology is especially attractive to manufacturers of photovoltaic panels and liquid crystal displays. The creators of the new technology explain that the light coming into the solar cell in devices produced today, is reflected by conductive lines. XTPL lines are so thin that the sun\'s rays are not reflected, but only refracted, which increases the absorption of solar energy. In the case of mobile devices, the light emitted by them is blocked by conductive lines. Thin XTPL conductors obstruct the light less, allowing to achieve the same display brightness at lower power consumption. This translates into longer battery life.

Today indium-tin oxide (ITO) is used in the cells and displays as a so-called transparent electrode. ITO, due to its crystalline structure, loses its properties as it bends. This does not allow to use it in modern flexible products meeting market and customer requirements.

In addition, according to Dr. Granek, indium prices are high and variable, and global resources are largely controlled by one country - China. "Our invention is to replace indium. The introduction of next-generation conductive layers will allow global manufacturers to become independent of the uncertain indium market. In other words, it will be cheaper, more efficient and more comfortable, and users will get brighter, larger screens and more efficient photovoltaic panels" - Dr. Granek explained.

XTPL works on their invention in modern laboratories of Wrocław Research Center EIT+. The technology of ultra-precision nanomaterial printing is protected by a patent application. Thanks to the reproducibility and control of print, researchers are now ready to test their technology in collaboration with potential customers.

"The nanometer scale in which we operate is very attractive because of its potential, but at the same time difficult. We managed to control the printing process of nanomaterials and make it reproductive" - explained Dr. Granek. "We talk about XTPL technology at many international meetings and conferences. Actually, from the very beginning we have seen a lot of interest in our solution, we got letters of intent from the biggest players in the photovoltaic world, including Trina Solar, but all these companies waited for the moment we were ready to test our technology together with them in the process of producing concrete solutions. This moment has come" - he added.

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