PEDOT: Transparent Electronics
The Power of PEDOT
Poly(3,4-EthyleneDioxyThiophene):PolyStyrene Sulfonate, also known as PEDOT:PSS, is remarkable amongst conductive polymers in that not only is it Flexible and Printable, but also Transparent and Conductive.
Usually, conductors are opaque due to their chemical composition. PEDOT, on the other hand, permits light to pass through, making it the perfect selection for applications that combine a need for both backlighting and circuitry, such as directly backlighting Capacitive Touch Switches with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
PEDOT has also become a dominant choice for In-Mold Electronics applications, as it has the ability to withstand the high temperatures and stretching required during the manufacturing process.
Why ALMAX?
The benefits of using ALMAX-made PEDOT Interfaces:
- Compatible with In-Mold Electronics
- Translucency for Backlighting
- Compatible With Graphic Overlays
- Rigid, Flexible, or Hybrid Circuits
- ESD, EMI or RFI Shielding Compatible
- Compact & Thin Profile
- Efficient Input & Output Controls
- Affordable
- Versatile
PEDOT In-Depth
The PEDOT:PSS Formulation
PEDOT mixtures have good adhesion qualities and are known for their high chemical stability, optical translucency and electrical conductivity. Unlike most other conductive inks, PEDOT is a fully a organic polymer containing no metals. As a conductive ink for backlit capacitive switches, PEDOT allows low-profile, user-friendly interfaces to be made at a lower cost. ALMAX uses only the finest of PEDOT compounds, allowing us to meet highly demanding optical applications, making ALMAX the top manufacturing and design partner for PEDOT interfaces.
PEDOT Capacitive Circuit
Minimal Timeline of PEDOT Uses Over Time
From PEDOT to PEDOT:PSS
With more than 20 years of evolution, PEDOT has become one of the most commercially developed conductive polymers. It was originally developed in the late 1980s as an anti-static coating for photographic film. That film running through a projector at 24 frames per second created a lot of static. To make sure someone in the projector booth did not get shocked, the film was coated in PEDOT, allowing the conductiveness of PEDOT to dissipate all the static electricity.
Photography Film may not be as popular today as it used to be, but anti-static coatings used for packaging are more important than ever in protecting electronic components and devices. Electrolytic capacitors (like those used in virtually every electronic device) also use PEDOT.
More recent applications include OLEDs for displays and lighting, photovoltaics, smartwindows, capacitive sensors and more.
PEDOT continues to find new applications and is showing no signs of going away anytime soon.
Advantages of PEDOT
Translucency
As a gauranteed material for backlit applications PEDOT:PSS has surfaced. Prior to PEDOT, the only way you could backlight a capacitive sensor was if you used a reverse-mounted LED. Which not only made it difficult to use in flexible applications, but also created a potentially noisey sensing environment with erratic readings.
Fortunately, the translucency of the PEDOT:PSS formulation carries with it an optically transparent effect, making it possible to not only backlight around capacitive sensors, but backlight the physical sensor locations themselves. This aesthetic advancement has made PEDOT very desirable throughout the HMI industry.
Adaptability
Due to PEDOT’s inherent thermal stability, It has been found to be stable at relatively high temperatures, with the ability to withstand 125°C for several thousand hours. Because of this, PEDOT:PSS is extremely adaptable and makes it capable of being used in In-Mold applications where thermo/vacuum forming can raise it to high temperatures for periods of time.
PEDOT:PSS also shows good stability throughout a wide range of air and humidities. Meaning that your sensors will maintain long-life and stability in tough or changing environments.
Flexibility
The flexibility that PEDOT:PSS provides can last for hundreds of thousands of bending cycles depending on the implementation. PEDOT can withstand not only bending but also a fair amount of stretching as well.
PEDOT also can be printed on a wide variety of substrates, from rigid FR-4 PCBs to polyester, glass, polycarbonate, fabrics and more.
Different ink formulations can also help to achieve a greater strength of certain abilities as needed per application.
PEDOT & Transparent Electronic Manufacturing Services
ALMAX provides top tier manufacturing for a complete array of PEDOT:PSS & transparent electronic technologies. From concept design to volume manufacturing, our partners entrust their custom transparent application needs to our engineering and manufacturing teams. We specialize in solving human interface challenges and establishing quality control across the entire Printed Electronics manufacturing process.
In over 20 years, we have expanded our operations greatly, including a domestic prototype facility and two offshore manufacturing plants. This gives us the ability to meet high volumes of production.
ALMAX offers high quality electronics that serve a variety of industries. This is thanks to our state of the art facilities and processes, as well as our expert engineering team.
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