ETH-Zürich: Carbon-coated copper nanoparticles available for licensing

Licensing opportunity

A carbon-coated copper nanocomposite with high potential in coating, RFID, temperature and pressure sensing applications is available for licensing from ETH-Zürich.

This invention is a versatile water-based ink or paint, prepared from air-stable, carbon-coated copper nanoparticles which can be applied as functional coatings. It acts as an optical humidity sensor by detecting different humidities or organic solvent vapours. Its use extends to coating materials with mirror-like properties and, given its electrical conductivity, the composite can be used in the manufacture of RFID devices.

When an electrical current is applied to this composite material in a pressed pill form, pressure and temperature changes can be detected. This could be useful in the manufacture of thermal sensors and thermistors for the automotive and aerospace industries.

The main advantages of this composite, according to ETH-Zürich, are its low cost, scalability, advanced NTC (negative temperature coefficient) behaviour, pressure and temperature-dependent electrical resistance, and its coating function.

This technology can be used for low-cost RFID tags, a technology primarily used in access control for people or vehicles, manufacturing automation, retail and parcel tracking. Other applications include humidity sensors for consumer goods, metallic coating for the car industry and magnetic polymers in miniature electromotors.