Conductive inks and pastes are key to the creating of flexible and hybrid electronics. Conductive materials allow the printed portion of the device to function electronically. It is also a sizable market: estimates place the conductive ink segment at more than $2 billion. Conductive inks can be made from any material that is, well, conductive. Silver and carbon-based inks are the primary choices, with copper of interest. However, copper has issues with oxidation that make it less ideal for printing. Nanoparticle-based and particle-free alternatives are also emerging, but they are higher cost. Dr. Matthew Dyson, technology analyst with IDTechEx, notes that IDTechEx estimates the current conductive ink market size as $2.3 billion, with silver the primary material for conductive inks. “Almost 80% is silver flake-based ink that is used to make the conductive fingers on silicon solar panels,” Dr. Dyson reported. “While the market for this application is established