Hitachi Chemical Applies C3nano's Activegrid™ Transparent Conductive Inks

HAYWARD, Calif., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- C3nano Inc., the performance leader in transparent conductive films (TCFs) and inks for the touch sensor and display industry, announced today that Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd, and C3nano have partnered in the joint development of transparent conductive transfer films (TCTFs) using C3nano's Activegrid™ silver nanowire (AgNW) solution-based inks. The joint partnership enables a new class of flexible, more intuitive touch sensor applications, including those in large panel and curved displays.

Hitachi Chemical cited C3nano's superior light transmission and low haze in its selection criteria. This, coupled with sheet resistance of 30 to 50 Ohms per square, will enable Hitachi Chemical to deliver TCTFs that offer high conductivity and optical performance on par with ITO. In ITO replacements, there has been a trade-off between high conductivity and haze.

"With C3nano's Activegrid, Hitachi Chemical can provide touch sensor producers high-conductivity TCTFs with excellent opto-electronic performance," said Hitachi's VP and executive officer, Shunichiro Uchimura. "Because of its flexibility and low resistance, Activegrid can be adapted to a variety of form-factors with selective sensing capabilities for a more intuitive consumer experience."

"Hitachi Chemical has a long history of technology leadership and product innovation that continues to drive successive generations of smarter, more powerful touch sensor applications," said Cliff Morris, CEO of C3nano. "Partnering with Hitachi Chemical, one of the best optical coaters in the world, ensures consumer electronic manufactures highly competitive products with premium quality and reliability."

Analysts are widely predicting the rapid growth of ITO replacements. "Non-ITO transparent conductors are not only replacing ITO, but also provide functions that ITO cannot," said Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, CEO and principal analyst at Touch Display Research Inc., publisher of the recently released ITO-Replacement 2015 Report.

Last month, C3Nano announced the acquisition of Asia's largest synthesizer and producer of AgNW, Aiden Co. LTD. Korea. The partnership with Hitachi Chemical further establishes C3nano's position as a leading solution provider of premium TCFs for the flexible display, touch sensor, photovoltaic and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) industries.

C3nano will showcase Activegrid at the upcoming SID show, Booth 1420, at the San Jose Convention Center, June 2^rd through 4^th.

About C3Nano, Inc.
Founded in 2010 as a spinout from Professor Zhenan Bao's chemical engineering laboratory at Stanford University, C3Nano is the developer of the solution-based, transparent conductive inks and films as direct replacements for indium tin oxide (ITO). C3nano raised more than $20MM in funding to date, which has enabled the company to quickly achieve best in class ink formulations and expanded production capabilities. C3nano is headquartered in Silicon Valley with an industry leading manufacturing base in Korea. Visit www.c3nano.com

About Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. Hitachi  Chemical Co., Ltd. (TSE : 4217) headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers a wide range of innovative products such as electronics materials, automobile parts, energy storage devices and systems in global markets. The company's consolidated revenue for fiscal 2014 (ending March 31, 2015) totaled 534 billion yen ($4.9 billion US). www.hitachi-chem.co.jp/english/

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SOURCE C3nano