Belgian chemicals supplier Solvay is investing $4 million (€3 million) in a US developer of materials for printed electronics, broadening its interest in this emerging industry.
The investment by Solvay is for a minority stake into Illinois-based start-up Polyera, which develops organic semiconductors and dielectrics for use in devices such as organic thin-film transistors (OTFT) and organic photovoltaics (OPV).
The investment is being made under Polyera's series B financing, in which its prior investors are also taking part.
Polyera sells many of its materials under the ActivInk range, which includes semiconductors, dielectrics and interfacial layers, designed to work together to create high-performance plastic electronic devices. The inks have been developed to be compatible with inkjet and gravure printing techniques.
Strategic investment
The company's focus on materials development for OPV and OTFT devices led to Solvay's strategic investment in the business, which is also targeting these organic electronics applications with its technology.
The deal follows on from Solvay's previous strategic investment in Plextronics, a Pittsburgh-based developer of materials for organic solar cells and other organic electronic devices.
In August 2009 Solvay North American Investments, a subsidiary of the group, led a series B financing round for $14 million, which had build on an earlier investment in the start-up. Its $12 million stake in Plextronics makes Solvay the firm's largest minority investor. Plextronics sells a range of materials, called Plexcore, that fall into three groups: inks for organic solar cells, organic conductive inks and organic semiconductor polymers.
Polyera is headquartered at the Illinois Science and Technology Park, in Skokie, and was founded in 2005.
+Plastic Electronics magazine provides exclusive, high-value content for the printed, plastic and organic electronics industry. To sign up for your copy immediately, click the link below, contact publications@pira-international.com or visit our subscriptions page.
Documents and links
-
Subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine
Subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine, published six times a year, for just £100/€110/$160. Find out more here
External Link
-
Polyera
US supplier of materials to the printed electronics industry
External Link
-
Solvay
Belgian chemical supplier that has invested in printed electronics companies like Polyera
External Link
-
New tracks: copper-based inks for printed electronics
Copper-based ink would be a major step forward for printed electronics, says Richard Dixon, COO of nanotechnology firm Intrinsiq Materials
External Link
-
Pressing for change: brands using printed electronics for cards and games
Brand owners Hallmark and Kimberly-Clark have long seen the potential of printing electronics on paper to add functionality to products. More and more companies are now waking up to the possibilities
External Link
-
The future role of printing in plastic electronics
Dr Sean Smyth, a leading consultant for the digital and analogue printing industry, examines opportunities and challenges for printing electronics
External Link