The 2nd Chinese Printed Electronics Symposium (CPES 2011) was held in Suzhou on 27-28 October 2011. More than 100 participants attended the event. There were 24 oral presentations and over a dozen of posters. The invited overseas speakers included Professor Gyoujin Cho of Sunchon National University of Korea, Dr Jie Zhang of Singapore Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Dr. Henry Yan of Polyera Corp. from US, Dr. Xiachang Zhang of Enfucell in Finland and Professor Feng Yan from Hong Kong Polytech University. The domestic speakers were from Chinese Academy of Sciences, universities and industry.

The topics covered by the symposium ranged from material synthesis to new printing methods and applications. Professor Gyoujin Cho from Sunchon National University of Korea demonstrated their 32 bits RFID fabricated completely by roll-to-roll gravure printing on flexible plastic substrate. Dr. Yan of Polyera presented a series of n-type organic electronic materials which are of high charge mobility as well as ambient stability. Similar work is also presented by Professor Yunqi Liu from the Institute of Chemistry, CAS. His organic n-type material can be processed in solution form and simple circuitry has been fabricated by inkjet printing of the material. Dr. Xiachang Zhang of Enfucell showed performance of Enfucell’s paper battery. Professor Luhai Li from Beijing College of Printing gave his account on the various printing techniques which are currently used in printing industry and how they can be used for printing electronic components and systems. Two post-graduate students from Beijing College of Printing also introduced their research work at the symposium. A panel discussion was conducted at the end of symposium after Professor Zheng cui, the Symposium Chair, gave his thoughts on how printed electronics should be developed in China.

Compared to the last year’s 1st symposium where there were only 20 or so participants and 8 oral presentations, the large attendance of this year’s symposium represents the rapid rising of interest in printed electronics in the Chinese research community and industrial sector. Government level funding support to this new technology is also rolling in since 2010. It is interesting to note that the National Industrial Alliance on Printed Electronics was formed just the day before the symposium in Suzhou. With more and more organizations and companies joining the force to develop the technology, R&D activities and commercialization of printed electronics in China is poised to take off in the next few years.

The 2nd CPES Photo by SINANO

Experts @ CPES Photo by SINANO