Dowa Electronics Materials to Expand FPD Electrode Materials

Dowa Electronics Materials, an operating company of Dowa Holdings to supply electronic materials, will increase its line-up of electrode materials for flat panel display (FPD). The firm plans to commercialize nanometer-level-diameter silver powder for auxiliary electrode of organic light emitting display within next 1-2 years. For electrode of liquid crystal display, the firm has developed spread-type indium-tin-oxide (ITO). The firm will cultivate FPD market more by addition of these new electrode materials to silver powder for plasma panel display the firm has already produced and sells.Dowa Electronics Materials succeeded in development of 10-nanometer-diameter silver powder by a low-temperature firing method. The firm plans to sell the new powder in several forms such as powder, paste and ink as a next strategic product. The firm now develops and produces the new powder at Honjou plant in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, while examines the commercial production at Okayama plant in Okayama Prefecture, Japan in future.As to ITO electrode, a new productive technology is recently focused to spread ITO paste on a glass substrate by applying printing technology. This technology costs lower than an existent sputtering method. Dowa Electronics Materials has developed ITO paste at Honjou plant partly in cooperation with Tohoku University. The firm expects ITO paste demand might grow significantly if the productive method be realized.