CSIRO: Chemical technologies & Processes lead to development of flexible phone screens and high tech products

New Industry partnerships between Australia and South Korea will lead to the development of flexible electronics and other high tech products.

CSIRO, Australia: The next generation of flexible phone screens and other high tech products are one step closer to development following a partnership agreement between Melbourne-based company Boron Molecular; South Korean manufacturer the Kyung-In Synthetic Corporation (KISCO); and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

Some of the chemical technologies and processes by CSIRO include:-

• Flow chemistry – CSIRO is pioneering the use of flow chemistry in Australia and has helped Boron Molecular integrate this efficient, cost effective, waste-reducing technology into its operations. Flexible electronics are created using polymers made through flow chemistry.
• CSIRO’s reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) – enables the production of polymers that are designed with enhanced properties for a myriad of uses across health, industry and agriculture.
• Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) – used to absorb molecules and harvest water from air.
• MS3 art conservation resin.

Using these technologies, Boron Molecular(spun out of CSIRO, 20 years ago) and KISCO(creates chemical colours and solutions) will be able to manufacture high purity precision-engineered polymers for flexible electronics, and many other applications in health, industry and agriculture for global markets as well.

Dr John Tsanaktsidis, Advanced Fibres and Chemical Industries Research Director at CSIRO, said this partnership will see CSIRO continue to use its science to strengthen local businesses and create future industries and jobs.

“The new agreement will bolster Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability, create local jobs and open the door for Boron Molecular to further commercialize CSIRO’s technology in new global markets via KISCO’s international links and production capacity,” Dr Tsanaktsidis said.

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“Our partnership with KISCO and Boron Molecular builds on over 40 years of CSIRO’s technological leadership in chemical processing and polymers, which has led to Australia’s plastic banknote technology, extended wear contact lenses, biodegradable plastics for biomedical applications, and many other products.”

KISCO CEO and President Dr Sung Yong Cho said they will initially focus on flexible electronics.

“We’re looking forward to making the first products from this new partnership available to Korean electronics companies this year,” Dr Cho said.“CSIRO is a powerhouse of chemistry and materials research and through our partnership with Boron Molecular we can scale up and deliver this research to new markets.”