Nantero, HP explore inkjet printing of nanotube memory

LONDON — Nantero Inc. (Woburn, Mass.), a company developing a nonvolatile memory based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), has said it is exploring flexible electronics applications with Hewlett Packard Co. (Palo Alto, Calif.).

Nantero said it is working with HP to explore the use of HP inkjet technology and Nantero’s carbon nanotube (CNT) formulation to create flexible electronics products and develop low-cost printable memory.

Specifically Nantero said it is using an HP thermal inkjet research and development tool to evaluate inkjet technology for printable memory in such applications as low-cost RFID tags.

HP's TIPS R&D tool provides heads with multiple nozzles, large drop size range, and programmable volume. The collaboration is part of an HP initiative to extend HP inkjet printing technology into applications where accurate placement of small drops and deposition of precise volumes of fluid is required, Nantero said.

"Working with HP and its TIPS system to explore the printability of our NRAM memory cell can open up entirely new application spaces in the memory segment," said Greg Schmergel, CEO and co-founder of Nantero, in a statement. "For example, a printable NRAM memory could be deposited on flexible substrates to enable very low cost RFID tags."

"For the semiconductor industry, this approach may offer both substantial cost advantages as well as enable new electronics applications on flexible substrates when combined with technology such as Nantero’s material system and memory expertise," said Kathy Tobin, vice president of Specialty Printing Systems at HP, in the same statement.

Related articles:

Carbon nanotube memory coming in 2007, says report

Nantero picking up nanotube development with ON Semi

Nantero claims memory success at 22-nm