About our Technology

Our patented technology will enable printed electronics manufacturers to address the global problem of electronic waste

A circular lifecycle for printed electronics

Benefits

  • Cost effective alternative to existing silver flake inks
  • Unique recycling process for manufacturing waste
  • Just 15 kg/kg CO2 emissions
  • Up to 75% reduction in scope-3 embedded carbon emissions
  • Further reductions with recycling
  • Reuse of high value silver
  • Recovery electronic components and semi-conductor ICs.

Our Journey

This story started when we decided to look for at solutions to the large quantities of printed electronic waste that was generated as part of our research project. We quickly learnt that there were limited options for the recovery of precious metals from electronic waste, and none that could be considered environmentally friendly. The existing methods used highly toxic chemical or pyrolytic processes to mine the electronic waste for precious metals. It was in response to this that we set out to create an alternative, starting at the beginning with the formulation of the conductive inks.

We designed a novel ink formulation that would allow us to recover the silver material from waste in an environmentally sustainable way. Furthermore the silver we recovered could be reused in the formulation of new conductive inks without the need for additional processing. By adopting this design for recycling approach we were able to create the first truly circular lifecycle for printed electronics. This innovation was tested in the lab at Swansea University where we were able to achieve recovery rates in excess of 80% from paper substrate and 95% from plastics. A patent for the technology, covering both the ink formulation and associated recycling process, was filed with the help of the AgorIP program in 2022.

With the technology protected, the next step was to identify how we could maximise the impact and help to pave the way for sustainable printed electronics. The team, led by Dr James Claypole, was granted a place on the Innovate UK ICURe Explore program to explore the commercial opportunity of the technology. The findings were pitched to an expert panel following 3 months of intense primary market research. The decision was that the creation of a spinout company was the best means to maximise impact from the technology. A further 3 months of business development training was provided as part of the ICURe Exploit program to shape the idea into a suitable business model and providing the opportunity to apply for the ICURe follow on grant.

Roll forward 6 months and with a successful grant application and angel investment we were able to official start on the 1st of October 2024.

Discover our innovative silver conductive inks and get in touch to learn more about technology or to request a sample.