Printed and Flexible Sensors 2014-2024: Technologies, Players, Forecasts

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Oct 14, 2013, 11:28 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Printed and Flexible Sensors 2014-2024: Technologies, Players, Forecasts
http://www.reportlinker.com/p01662164/Printed-and-Flexible-Sensors-2014-2024-Technologies-Players-Forecasts.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Electronic_Component_and_Semiconductor

Printed and flexible sensors are playing an increasingly important role in printed electronics. The biggest market is currently glucose sensors used by diabetics. However, other types of printed sensors are emerging. IDTechEx forecasts the market for printed sensors will have increased by more than $1 billion by 2020.

Sensors in general have a much simpler structure than displays or logic circuits. The technology barrier against commercialisation is therefore less steep compared to many other printed electronics applications. In fact, some types of sensors have always been printed. And there are many types of sensors, therefore many addressable markets.

This report covers the following categories of printed and flexible sensors:
- Biosensors
- Capacitive sensors (not including touchscreens)
- Piezoresistive & Piezoelectric (pressure, force, or strain) sensors
- Photoelectric (photodetectors, hybrid CMOS image sensors and digital X-ray sensors)
- Temperature sensors
- Gas sensors
- Opportunities in established and emerging markets

Printed and flexible sensors already represent a value of $6.3 billion in 2013. The biggest market is currently biosensors, where disposable glucose test strips are used to improve the lives of diabetics. However, other types of printed sensors are emerging, taking advantage of the latest materials.

IDTechEx expects new hybrid CMOS image sensors to quickly become the second largest market, with organic or quantum dot semiconductors replacing silicon as the photosensitive material in several applications.

Piezoresistive sensing is already an established market. Growth in piezoresistive sensors will however get additional momentum, explained by a combination of favourable trends. While the two biggest market segments are currently in Consumer Electronics and Healthcare, the next five years will see Automotive take a larger share, ultimately outgrowing Healthcare. In this scenario, IDTechEx expects the piezoresistive sensor market to triple by 2018, corresponding to 23% CAGR.

Other types of printed and flexible sensors such as photodetectors, temperature sensors or gas sensors are only emerging but they promise better performances, new form factors and ease of customisation. Now is the right time to enter the market and some companies are already positioned to reap the benefits.

The complete picture

Save months of research by quickly learning who the key players are in printed and flexible sensors. Get the complete picture on the various technologies, their applications and the market sizes.

The report includes technology reviews and market forecasts until 2024 for the following printed sensors:
- Biosensors
- Capacitive sensors (not including touchscreens)
- Piezoresistive sensors
- Piezoelectric sensors
- Photodetector
- Hybrid CMOS sensors
- Digital X-ray sensors
- Temperature sensors
- Gas sensors

Sensors that are processed at high temperature (ceramic pressure sensors, as well as some piezoelectric, temperature and gas sensors) are described in the report but not included in the forecast figures since they cannot be considered part of printed electronics.

Included in the report, a listing of 68 companies sorted by category helps you identify potential partners and suppliers. The report also includes 20 detailed company profiles based on direct interviews by IDTechEx's analysts.
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2. BIOSENSING WITH SCREEN PRINTED ELECTRODES
2.1. A versatile platform for chemical and bio sensing
2.2. Glucose test strips
2.2.1. Screen printing vs. sputtering
2.2.2. Technical challenges
2.2.3. Competing technologies
2.2.4. A multi-billion dollar market
2.3. Emerging applications
2.3.1. Drug screening
2.3.2. Breath sensing
2.3.3. Enhancements with nanomaterials

3. PRINTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS
3.1. Same structure, different materials available
3.2. Key players
3.3. Printed capacitive switches
3.3.1. The Ford Fusion: what happened
3.3.2. Integration with Injection Moulding
3.4. Capacitive pressure sensing
3.5. Fluid level sensor

4. PIEZORESISTIVE AND PIEZOELECTRIC SENSORS (FORCE, PRESSURE, AND STRAIN)
4.1. Ceramic pressure sensors
4.1.1. Ceramic vs. other common types of pressure sensors
4.1.2. Construction of a ceramic pressure sensor
4.2. Printed piezoresistive force sensors
4.2.1. Sensor construction
4.2.2. Applications and markets
4.2.3. Key players and technology trends
4.3. Printed piezoelectric sensors
4.3.1. Printed PZT (ceramic)
4.3.2. Printed PVDF-TrFE (polymer)
4.3.3. Solvene

5. PRINTED PHOTODETECTORS
5.1. A new generation of photoelectric materials
5.1.1. Reasons to replace silicon
5.1.2. Key players
5.2. Applications to new form factors
5.2.1. Making customised optical sensing systems
5.2.2. Recent news: New production line for printed sensors
5.2.3. Recent news: Scientists build photodetectors on textile
5.3. Applications to hybrid CMOS image sensors
5.3.1. Organic semiconductors
5.3.2. Quantum dots
5.4. Applications to X-ray sensors
5.4.1. The role of photodiodes in X-ray sensors
5.4.2. Progress towards robust and flexible X-ray sensors
5.4.3. Recent news: Collaboration between ISORG and Plastic Logic demonstrates a flexible image sensor
5.4.4. Recent news: Imec and Holst Centre in collaboration with Philips Research develop organic photodetector arrays suitable for X-ray imaging

6. PRINTED TEMPERATURE SENSORS
6.1. Key players
6.2. Printed thermistors compatible with plastic substrates
6.2.1. PST Sensors: Silicon nanoparticles ink
6.2.2. Research at PARC (Xerox)
6.2.3. Organic thermistors
6.3. Is Smart Packaging the main market for printed thermistors?
6.3.1. Electronic tags as a replacement for time-temperature indicators
6.3.2. First proof-of-concept prototype of an integrated printed electronic tag
6.3.3. Exploring new applications
6.4. Novel concept: Wireless organic temperature sensor made with carbon nanotubes

7. PRINTED GAS SENSORS
7.1. Different types of gas sensors, not all can be printed
7.1.1. Pellistors
7.1.2. Infrared
7.1.3. Electrochemical
7.1.4. Chemiresistors
7.1.5. Electronic nose (e-nose)
7.2. Key players in printed gas sensors
7.3. All-printed gas sensors with solid electrolytes
7.3.1. KWJ Engineering: Thin carbon monoxide sensor made with a nano-catalyst
7.3.2. Solidsense SEC sensors
7.4. Latest innovations
7.4.1. Aerosol jet printing
7.4.2. Inkjet Printing
7.4.3. Startup company developing new electronic nose device
7.4.4. New research on acetone breath analysis

8. MARKET FORECAST
8.1. Scope and overview
8.2. Biosensors
8.3. Piezoresistive sensors
8.4. Capacitive sensors
8.5. Hybrid CMOS image sensors
8.6. Other emerging printed sensor technologies

9. COMPANIES
9.1. An index categorising 68 companies by sensor type and geography
9.2. Detailed company profiles
9.2.1. Arizona State University (ASU), USA
9.2.2. DropSens, Spain
9.2.3. GSI Technologies, USA
9.2.4. Interlink Electronics, USA
9.2.5. ISORG, France
9.2.6. KWJ?Engineering, USA
9.2.7. Meggitt A/S, Denmark
9.2.8. NikkoIA SAS, France
9.2.9. Peratech, UK
9.2.10. Piezotech (Arkema group), France
9.2.11. Plastic Electronic GmbH, Austria
9.2.12. PolyIC, Germany
9.2.13. PST Sensors, South Africa
9.2.14. Synkera Technologies, USA
9.2.15. Tactonic Technologies, USA
9.2.16. Tekscan, USA
9.2.17. Temptime, USA
9.2.18. Thin Film Electronics, Norway
9.2.19. T-Ink, USA
9.2.20. Vista Medical, Canada

To order this report: Printed and Flexible Sensors 2014-2024: Technologies, Players, Forecasts
http://www.reportlinker.com/p01662164/Printed-and-Flexible-Sensors-2014-2024-Technologies-Players-Forecasts.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Electronic_Component_and_Semiconductor