MENLO PARK, Calif. - (Business Wire) Unidym, Inc, a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ARWR), announced today that it has entered into a second joint development agreement with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to extend their collaboration into a second year. The companies have been working jointly to integrate carbon nanotube materials as the transparent conductive layer in display devices. One achievement from the first year of this collaboration was the world
’s first public demonstration of a working prototype of a carbon nanotube-based active matrix electrophoretic display (EPD) e-paper at the Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium in May of 2008.
Next generation displays are expected to require a transparent electrode material that simplifies the deposition process and that is mechanically robust to meet necessary cost, flexibility and reliability targets. Carbon nanotubes simplify the transparent conductor deposition process because they can be wet processed utilizing printing techniques, or through roll to roll coating processes, in contrast to the current more difficult and time-consuming vacuum sputtering deposition process required by indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO). Additionally, in testing, ITO and IZO materials typically used in today’s transparent electrodes have shown a doubling in sheet resistance after as few as 100 bending cycles around a 9.7mm mandrel, whereas, Unidym’s carbon nanotube based electrodes show minimal degradation under the same conditions. This increased mechanical robustness of nanotubes opens new possibilities for next generation display applications.
“We look forward to another successful year of joint development with the entry into this new agreement,” said Art Swift, Unidym's CEO and president. “We believe that the use of carbon nanotubes in next generation displays is a natural application of this material, and we are pleased to be developing these potentially groundbreaking technologies with Samsung Electronics, a world leader in display technologies.”
“We have made significant progress in the first year of our joint development agreement. The results of the collaboration have exceeded our expectations, and have been accomplished ahead of schedule,” said Dr. Paul Drzaic, chief technical officer of Unidym. “In this second year we are looking to build upon these first year accomplishments, and extend the capabilities for carbon nanotubes as transparent conductors even further in various display applications.”
About Unidym, Inc.
Unidym is a leader in the manufacture and application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a novel material with extraordinary electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Unidym provides bulk materials, CNT-enabled products, and intellectual property to a wide range of customers and business partners. As a result of its recent merger with CNI, Unidym possesses a foundational patent portfolio that covers nearly every aspect of CNT manufacturing and processing as well as multiple product applications.
Unidym is focused on the electronics industry where its initial products include transparent electrodes for touch screens, flat panel displays, solar cells, and solid state lighting; electrodes for fuel cells; and thin film transistors for printable electronics. Unidym is also pursuing an aggressive, cross-industry partnership strategy to capture value from the wide ranging uses of CNTs. Unidym’s licensing program, technical expertise and manufacturing facilities can enable partners to rapidly develop CNT solutions for their specific applications.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. Arrowhead Research Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and 10-Q/A, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, our Registration Statements on Form S-3, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Unidym, Inc.
Greg Rose, 650-462-1935
pr@unidym.com
