Ynvisible and Evonik Collaborate in Printed Electronics

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Ynvisible Interactive Inc and Evonik Creavis GmbH, the strategic innovation unit of Evonik Industries AG - an Essen, Germany headquartered global specialty chemicals group - announce a collaboration in the field of printable electronics and introduce a first joint technology demonstrator.

The collaboration combines Evonik's printable battery materials with electrochromic displays from Ynvisible, opening up novel product design possibilities for Internet-of-Things (IoT) and other everyday smart product applications. 

Evonik, with revenues of €13.1 billion, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. In the field of printed electronics it develops, produces and markets under the brand name TAeTTOOz polymer-based energy storage materials and has significant expertise in such materials and their use in batteries, in particular in printed rechargeable batteries. Ynvisible develops and brings to market interactive printed graphics solutions based on ultra low-power printed electrochromic (EC) displays. The company also offers design, prototyping, and contract manufacturing services for an increasing range of printed electronic and hybrid systems.

With the joint technology demonstrator, the two companies show what is possible when their technology platforms are combined. The demonstrator integrates the ink formulations for printable batteries from Evonik and Ynvisible's proprietary electrochromic displays into a combined system that consumes only minimal electricity, is ultra low-weight, and is highly flexible, transparent, and robust.

The technology demonstrator shows possibilities for efficient industrial design: components required by both the battery and the electrochromic display are manufactured in a single step and are shared. The aim is system level performance and cost efficiencies, while eliminating design and production restrictions of conventional electronics.

"Printable electronics are taking on a key role, as everyday items become increasingly interconnected through the Internet of Things. We develop our fully printable polymer energy storage technology for seamless integration into energy autonomous IoT devices," says Dr. Michael Korell of Creavis, the strategic research unit of Evonik, where he is responsible for the development of TAeTTOOz. "We see an exciting fit between TAeTTOOz® and Ynvisible's printed electrochromics and their range of design and production services. Furthermore, we find ourselves focused on largely the same end markets and fields of application."

"We're very happy to have launched this joint development with Evonik. Our two technology platforms complement each other perfectly and our approaches to design, production, and market entry are near identical," says Jani-Mikael Kuusisto, the CEO of Ynvisible. "TAeTTOOz® looks particularly promising from our perspective as it solves the powering needs in reusable printed systems. It's a truly unique rechargeable battery technology as it is produced entirely within a screen-printing process, which is also the base of electrochromic display printing. We look forward to working with Evonik to bring TAeTTOOz® into high volume production in combination with our electrochromic inks and display technology."

As a part of the collaboration going forward, Evonik and Ynvisible intend to jointly promote each other's products and technologies. Dr. Korell continues, "Ynvisible is the undisputed trailblazer when it comes to developing electrochromic displays. That's why we're happy to support the company and help this technology achieve a breakthrough on the mass market."