Kovio Introduces All-Printed Silicon Thin-Film Transistor

SAN FRANCISCO—Kovio, Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, has introduced an all-printed high-performance silicon thin-film transistor (TFT), a key building block that will enable the integration of electronics into everyday things. Kovio has demonstrated low-cost all-printed silicon TFTs with mobility of 80cm2/Vs, which significantly exceeds the performance of previously reported all-printed TFTs using either organic or inorganic semiconductors.

Based on nanotechnology and materials science, Kovio developed the electronic equivalents of color inks for graphics printing. These functional electronic inks include silicon, doped silicon, metals, and insulators. Combining functional electronic inks with high-resolution graphics printing technologies, Kovio has printed high-performance silicon TFTs at a fraction of the cost of conventional lithography-based silicon technology. The significantly lower cost is possible as a result of additive digital printing processes, lower capital expenditures and faster cycle time. Furthermore, Kovio’s technology is particularly attractive from an environmental and energy consumption standpoint.

The initial target application includes low-cost RFID for item-level tagging. This innovation significantly reduces the cost of item-level tagging required for meaningful adoption in various markets, including retail, consumer products, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation.

To accelerate the commercialization of its technology, Kovio also announced that it has signed two separate joint development and supply agreements with Toppan Forms Co. Ltd., a world leader in printing businesses, printable electronics and digital information technologies, and Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation, the world’s leading turnkey solution provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport.

Kovio expects to start shipment of products by the end of 2008.

About Kovio, Inc.

Kovio Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, is developing a new category of semiconductor products using printed silicon electronics and thin-film technology. Kovio’s approach delivers a unique and compelling value proposition in multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing and energy. For more information on Kovio, visit www.kovio.com .