Abstract:

Conventional Electronics, which is based in silicon technology, is finding limits for its further adoption. One of them is the scale of integration, that is the size of the transistors that integrate the devices, for which different alternatives are being evaluated [1][2]. Other constraints that are limiting the greater integration of electronics in our days are the size of the work surface, a flexible form factor, low operating consumption, weight, and the requirement of green materials, among others. As a solution to these limitations, printed electronics is presented, which is a set of printing methods used to create electrical devices on various substrates.

With the development of new inks and substrates, new applications are proposed in existing sectors and others of recent emergence, among them we can name: photovoltaic energy, screen edge electrodes, automotive electronics, e-textiles and portable electronics, RFID devices, piezoresistive, capacitive sensors and printed biosensors, OLED and a large sector of LED lighting [3][4][5].

As Printed Electronics is a new technology there are a few professionals working in it area in Argentina and it isn’t formally part any study plan of Electronic Engineering. Therefore, the formation of a research group on this subject has been proposed, with the objectives of training human resources in printed electronics and generating information and hands-on works to introduce the technology in the Electronics Engineering career.

In this paper, we present the different actions that the group have done to get the objective, from the study the state of art to the printing of the device of the example application selected, and the first experience to transfer the knowledge acquired in printed electronics at the Electronic Technology course of the Electronic Engineering career.

Keywords:

Printed Electronics, Inkjet, Conductive Inks, Dielectric Inks, Sensors, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NFC (Near Field Communication).