CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -- Organic electronics -- thin film transistors and displays for electronic products in which the key component is organic -- are forecast to hit $30 billion by 2015, driven by logic and memory, displays and lighting.

The author of the study, research firm IDTechEx, says organic electronics will not affect sales of silicon chips, however.

According to the study, organis will hit $250 billion by in 2025, at least $10 billion from logic/memory; OLED displays for electronic products; OLED billboard and signage; non-emissive organic displays; and OLED lighting, batteries and photovoltaics. And almost all of these products will be printed, flexible, laminar constructions using the same or similar processes.

Other products include laminar organic fuel cells and organic electrostatic and RF protection.

Dr. Peter Harrop, the report's author, said, "Progress is exponential, not linear, and, although the organic electronics business may be $4.75 billion in 2010, with OLED displays making nearly all the running, by 2015, startling progress on a broad front will be visible and by 2025, the business will rival silicon chips in size -- yet, oddly, not impacting silicon chip sales much at all."

IDTechEx holds that organics will be codeposited using similar inks at high speeds on equipment the same or similar to what's in use today. That means lower cost electronics and electrics, with greater reliability due to fewer interconnects and improved tolerance of damage, the firm says.

• Prev
• Next