NANOMETRIC LAB PRINTER. Plug & Play Solution for ultra-precise printing of conductive lines in nano-scale

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1 NANOMETRIC LAB PRINTER Plug & Play Solution for ultra-precise printing of conductive lines in nano-scale

2 WHO ARE WE? WHAT IS OUR SOLUTION? XTPL S.A. is a company operating in the nanotechnology segment. The interdisciplinary team of XTPL develops on a global scale an innovative technology, protected by international patent application, enabling ultra-precise printing of nanomaterials. XTPL s solution has all the features of so-called disruptive technology and will be consistently developed as part of advanced research & development works aimed at defining further innovative application fields. The company is focusing now on the fast paced commercialisation of its unique solution. Nanoprinting system designed by XTPL makes it possible to precisely apply to the printing surface a special ink specifically formulated for this purpose in the company s laboratories. Under the influence of an external electric field, the nanoparticles in the ink create conductive lines according to the specified parameters. As such, the thickness of the individual lines, their length and the distance between them all vary depending on a specific application. XTPL creates complex numerical models and uses advanced characteristics of nanoink and printed lines. This allows the company to constantly optimize its innovative technology and adapt the process to different implementation requirements.

3 HOW WE ACHIEVE RESULTS? NANOPRINTING human hair nanometric conductive line XTPL Ag Line ultra-precise printing enables achieving flexible, transparent, cost efficient & highly conductive lines, even 400 times thinner than a human hair nanoprinting will soon revolutionise sectors such as: printed electronics, solar cells, touch screens, wearable electronics, smart packaging, automotive, biosensors, medical devices, anti-counterfeiting & open defect repair

4 PRINTING PROCESS During the process of line formation, the printing head deposits a properly formulated ink - nanoparticles in a mixture of solvents - on a non-conductive substrate, in example such as glass or flexible foil. An external alternating electric field causes nanoparticles to assemble in a clearly defined and controlled way to form a line. The process takes place between a stationary and movable electrode. Functionality of the lines: electrically conductive, optically, biologically & chemically active Movable electrode: guides the formation of the line, which becomes an extension of the stationary electrode. Finally, the printing head short-circuits with a metallic pad, and the line connects to the pad while the printing head takes in an excess ink. Nanomaterials: metallic & semiconductor Line width: from 100 nm to 15 μm Line length: up to 25 cm range Aspect ratio: 1, in the single run of the printing head Very low voltage applied: 5-30 V Substrates: i.e. glass, Kapton, PEN, PC, PDMS, PET Resistance: 2 Ω /μm (for the line with the thickness of 1 μm), proof of concept manufactured featuring up to 20-40% bulk Ag (thickness nm) PROTECTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY XTPL s printing method and the ink formula are covered by patent applications submitted in collaboration with the British law firm, Gill Jennings & Every LLP. The patent protection will be extended to around 30 countries. Unique nano-ink Patent cloud Printing head Gill Jennings & Every LLP, London UK

5 TECHNOLOGY CORE PRINTING HEAD + NANO-INK The heart of the XTPL technology is designed by company s specialists innovative printing head. It operates on the basis of a unique algorithm & enables ultraprecise application of the ink with nanoparticles and formation of conductive lines. This revolutionary construction is subject to modifications that allow for dedicated application and optimization for a given application field. Basing on the customers requirements the company is providing versions adapted to obtain outstanding results, i.e.: pressure version offering versatile method of dispensing that functions across a wide range of viscosities, it ensures fine and repeatable dots and lines and is suitable for a wide range of applications, from inline to batch dispensing to open defect repair process, whole construction is fully controlled by XTPL own electronics; capillary version specially designed for ultraprecise and demanding applications, small, robust and easy scalable device that allows for dispensing of the XTPL ink and formulation of electrical signal at the same time, it is used to create submicron & nanometric conductive lines with very small amount of ink (processes where minimum contamination is required - washing & drying no longer needed); multi-electrode version signal electro-mechanic module controlled by comprehensive & pioneering algorithm created by XTPL as the answer to marked demand for high printing density, allows for creating simultaneously two or more lines, main advantage of this solution is increased speed of printing due to multiplication of electrodes in one compact feature.

6 NANOMETRIC LAB PRINTER XTPL s printing head, electronics and software algorithms are the core of the system driving the electric field and the assembly process of nanoparticles. This comprehensive solution is implemented in designed & constructed by XTPL team Nanometric Lab Printer. It is a device that offers necessary functionalities to test, evaluate and use XTPL line-forming technology with nanometric precision and enables positioning of the printing head with micrometric resolution. Printer s electronics is a top-class control and measurement system ensuring that the process of printing is controlled both by software provided by XTPL and user systems. We deliver the printer with a set of inks, test substrates and a table that ensures proper fixing of samples and thermal control of the printing process. XTPL s technology sets revolutionary standard in nanoprinting. XTPL Nanometric Lab Printer is dedicated for: R&D centres both scientific & commercial Joint development projects with potential business partners Further development & defining new functionalities in line with application areas

7 GENERAL SPECIFICATION printer external dimensions - design for applications on a laboratory table printer ready for work: 840 (W) x 720 (D) x 660 (H) mm printer ready for transport: 900 (W) x 900 (D) x 700 (H) mm working area X: 300 mm, Y: 300 mm, Z: 100 mm - providing comfort & wide working surface printer weight approx. 100 kg with the printing head & ink set installed positioning accuracy: 5 μm positioning repeatability: 5μm positioning resolution: 1μm - XYZ axes combined with optical tracking of the printing area printing speed: depending on the dedicated application area USB & ETH Ports for communication with control unit (Computer) intuitive software solutions operating environment: operating temperature fully depends on ink properties operating humidity: 10 to 90% RH (no condensation) no cleanroom environment required power supply: AC V, 50/60 Hz power consumption: standard printing process approx. 500 W with standard substrate table including cooling & heating 2500 W safety & certificates: CE

8 MECHANICS ELECTRONICS SOFTWARE XYZ-axes based on linear motors with feedback two separate Z-axes all-axes homing system ensures easy automation of processes such as printing, cleaning of printing head & ink exchange XYZ-axes with overall 1μm positioning resolution with local possibility up to 50 nm ensures unprecedented precision of the printing head movement working area 300 mm x 300 mm substrate table with cooling & heating precise vision system including high resolution camera FPGA based technology that provides the best & the fastest currently available electronic control technology & ensures the ability to easily update the firmware of the printer system architecture based on a 32-bit ARM chip integrated motion control system for all axes external process trigger and electronic trigger system of automatic cooling & heating of substrates ability to connect external devices to increase the printer s research & development capabilities intuitive and well known Windows 10 OS rich set of documented commands for control & guidance interface in the form of libraries & examples of connection with PC applications as well as C/C ++, python, Matlab & other languages software development kit for the video system

9 XTPL NANOMETRIC LAB PRINTER FULL PACKAGE coordinating machine XYZZ controlled by a computer with a resolution step of 1 μm single-line or multi-line printing head enabling printing lines using XTPL technology set up package containing: basic ink: 50 ml Ag<70 nm, concentration 20 mg/ml glass substrates with thin film starting electrodes: 20 pcs glass microcapillaries, 5 pcs gold electrodes, 4 pcs tungsten electrodes, 4 pcs. active temperature control system for substrates enabling quick cooling & heating of processed samples precise vision system allowing for tracking of the printing process in real time integrated PC computer based on standard Windows 10 integrated in the printer ensuring trouble-free operation of the printer (with monitor included) PC software & embedded software that forms comprehensive control system for the entire device

10 XTPL PRINTED LINES The feature size of printed structures is one of the key parameters in XTPL technology. The width of structures obtained using our method can reach even below 100 nm. What makes the XTPL technology unique is the possibility to create lines with a width-to-height aspect ratio close to 1 in a single pass of the printing head. Reducing the width of the printed structures is important as among others - it increases the transparency of conductive films. In our method, it is possible to adjust the properties of the conductive lines by changing: the amplitude, shape and frequency of the electrical signal; the physicochemical properties of the ink; and finally the size, distribution and shape of nanoparticles. Line width 40 nm 100 nm 300 nm Line width 600 nm 1 μm 3 μm MULTIPRINTING FLEXIBLE SUBTRATES EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION - OPEN DEFECT REPAIR 100 µm 100 µm

11 XTPL NANOMETRIC LAB PRINTER SUPPORT & CONSULTING 12 months warranty for the printer and the printing head 2 days for demonstration of technology in XTPL s laboratories & training covering: use of printer including topics regarding mechanics, electronics & software, process of line formation, use of the ink 1 day for setting up the device, integration with user s systems & training in designated customer s facility 10 hours of assistance of application department during the process of technology implementation 10 hours of consultation regarding the device & further application areas 10 hours of software maintenance on demand possibility to modify given functionalities developed by XTPL.- that includes: inks - modification of the composition & development of new formulas along with aging tests substrates user s substrate tests, adaptation of the process to customer s requirements mechanics - increasing working area, additional peripherals electronics - change of precision & speed of control/measurement, integration with external interfaces software - integration with third party software, modification of the functionality of each layer of the printer s software hours of free of charge support & software maintenance

12 XTPL S.A. 147 Stablowicka Street Wroclaw, Poland nanometric conductive lines invisible even for the light