Maxell developed transparent conductive inks with bases of conductive polymer and metal oxide.
They can be applied to wet-coating and enable you to control surface resistance for a wide range. They can also be used for transparent electrode, EMI shield and anti-static applications.

Features of Transparent Conductive Inks

  • Maxell’s ink can form a highly transparent conductive coat by dispersing nanosized particles uniformly.
  • Control of surface resistance in a wide range (102~1010Ω/sq) is possible with high transparency.
  • The refractive index of conductive coating is very close to that of substrate and adhesive.
  • Flexible coating structure enables flexible applications effectively.
  • We can adjust the high dispersion ink to meet with various wet-coating conditions.

 

Roll-to-roll Sheet-fed

Properties

ItemConductive polymer
(PEDOT)
Metal oxide
(ITO)※2
Metal oxide
(ATO)※3
Ink
properties
Viscosity(mPa・s) 2~40 2~20 0.5~20
pH 2~3 5~9
Solvent Water/Alcohol Ketone Water/Alcohol
Coating propertiesSurface resistance
(Ω/sq)
102~103
(proper value)
104~106
(proper value)
108~1010
(proper value)
Total light transmittance(%)※1 > 90 > 85 > 95
Haze(%)※1 < 1.0 < 2.0 < 0.5
Refractive index 1.4 1.6 1.5
Pencil hardness H~3H H~2H 4H
Substrate Film(PET)、Glass
Ink particle structure
(TEM)

PEDOT

Polymer gel particle
Polymer gel particle
(30nm)

ITO

ITO nano particle
ITO nano particle
(20nm)

ATO

ATO nano particle
ATO nano particle
(20nm)

Cross-section of coating
(SEM)

Coating layer Substrate 500nm

Coating layer Substrate 1μm

Coating layer Substrate 100nm

※1 Total light transmittance and haze data are only the conductive coating.
※2 Under review the ink composition.
※3 Under development solvent-free and UV-curable type.

 

Adoption results “light blue hatching”

Conductive polymer “PEDOT”

  • Transparent conductive material of dispersed nanosized polymer particle
  • Adjustable ink composition to various wet coating conditions
  • Controllable surface resistance subject to coating thickness
  • Refractive index of conductive coating being very close to that of substrate and adhesive
  • Flexible coating structure enables flexible applications effectively

 

Ink properties

Conductive polymer PEDOT

Coating properties

Relationship between total light transmittance and surface resistance
Relationship between total light transmittance and surface resistance

 

Reliability

Only PEDOT coating

PEDOT coating covered with protective film

 

Metal oxide “ATO”

  • Transparent conductive material of dispersed nanosized ATO particle
  • Adjustable ink composition to various wet coating conditions
  • High transparency, resistance stability and high reliability “high temperature resistance,  humidity resistance and weather resistance“
  • Refractive index of conductive coating being very close to that of substrate and adhesive

 

Ink properties

Metal oxide ATO

Coating properties

Relationship between coating thickness and surface resistance
Relationship between total light transmittance and surface resistance

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