In the PriMeBits project, a printable electric low-voltage nonvolatile memory is developed for printed sensor, media and wireless-ID applications. The main strategy is to utilize printed technology where it has a competitive advantage compared to silicon technology. The project builds on basic research of new materials and components and takes the results into prototyping of new applications. To reduce the research risk, two different technologies for the memory functionality are considered with partially overlapping application areas.

Current printable polymer-based memory technologies typically suffer from i) the needed operating voltage being high, ii) too short lifetime in room atmosphere, iii) poor temperature stability, iv) chemically reactive materials needing encapsulation and/or v) time-consuming temperature-annealing steps in fabrication. Consequently, for many commercially attractive passive and battery-powered applications, the properties of current printable memories are unsuited. To overcome the shortcomings of prior-art approaches, printable inorganic metaloxide nanoparticle-based ferroelectric FRAM memory and a resistive metallic-based write-once-read-many (WORM) memory will be developed. To print the ferroelectric memory, new printing inks based on, for example, barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles will be developed. For the WORM memory, the project will aim at utilizing commercial metal nanoparticle inks with possibly some customization. Depending on the application, a printed circuitry or an external device is used for the reading and writing of the memory.

The results of the project PriMeBits will enhance the competitiveness of European logistics and industrial paper production value chains with a strong positive impact also on the European scientific competence in printable electronics.

Contact: Ari.Alastalo at vtt.fi

PriMeBits is a European Commission funded project under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

• Project Start Date - 1^st January 2008
• Project Duration - 36 Months