Roll-to-Roll
Continuous manufacturing of nanomaterial films
Zeon Corporation
Tokyo, Japan
Zeon Corporation, founded in 1950 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a major chemical company that has become a significant producer of super-growth carbon nanotubes (SG-CNT) alongside its traditional synthetic rubber and specialty chemical businesses. Publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 4205) with over 1,000+ employees, Zeon leverages its extensive chemical manufacturing expertise to produce high-quality carbon nanotubes marketed under the ZEONANO brand. The company entered the carbon nanotube market by licensing super-growth CVD technology developed at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), which enables rapid, efficient synthesis of exceptionally long and pure single-wall carbon nanotubes. Zeon's SG-CNT production technology can grow centimeter-length nanotubes with extremely high purity and minimal catalyst residues, resulting in CNTs with superior electrical and mechanical properties. These high-quality nanotubes find applications in transparent conductive films, high-performance composites, energy storage devices, and advanced sensors. Zeon has focused particularly on transparent conductive films where ZEONANO SG-CNTs provide alternatives to indium tin oxide (ITO) for touchscreens, displays, and photovoltaic electrodes. CNT-based transparent conductors offer advantages including mechanical flexibility, stretchability, and potentially lower costs compared to brittle ITO films. The company has developed CNT film manufacturing processes compatible with roll-to-roll production, enabling large-area transparent electrode fabrication for flexible electronics. Beyond electronics, Zeon leverages its core expertise in polymer science to develop CNT-enhanced elastomers and thermoplastics with improved electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal management for automotive and industrial applications. As a major chemical company, Zeon brings significant advantages to nanotechnology commercialization including established manufacturing capabilities, quality control expertise, global distribution networks, and customer relationships across multiple industries. The company's approach integrates carbon nanotube production within its broader specialty chemicals portfolio, cross-leveraging technologies and market channels. Zeon participates in Japanese government initiatives advancing carbon nanotube applications and collaborates with academic institutions on next-generation CNT technologies. The company's position in Japan—home to significant carbon nanotube research and several major electronics manufacturers—provides strategic advantages in developing applications for Japanese industry. Zeon's involvement in carbon nanotubes exemplifies how established chemical companies are increasingly incorporating nanotechnology into their product portfolios, bringing nanomaterials from research laboratories to commercial chemical production. As carbon nanotube applications mature, companies like Zeon with deep chemical manufacturing expertise and broad market access play crucial roles in scaling production and integrating nanomaterials into diverse industrial products, bridging the gap between specialty nanomaterial producers and end-use applications.
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