Time setter in the spotlight: the tech by Iris Kerkhof that you can feel on your skin

From smart patches to recyclable PCBs

The possibilities of printed electronics are endless: from smart patches to recyclable Printed Circuit Boards. Iris Kerkhof explains: ‘Printing electronics allows us to use new materials and shapes. This allows us to make products that are not only technically advanced or more comfortable, but also more sustainable. The process is very sophisticated: first we print conductive paths, then we place tiny parts using pick-and-place technology. The result? Electronics that are thin, flexible, and even stretchable.’

Pushing boundaries

Together with colleagues, from process technologists to materials engineers, Kerkhof is always looking for new solutions. Recyclable? Compostable? More complex functions? ‘If we solve those puzzles, a world of applications will open up, such as microLED screens, chip packaging and medical wearables that are both reliable and recyclable.’

From trainee to specialist

Kerkhof joined TNO for an internship during her higher professional course in applied natural sciences. She then stayed on as a working student. After a graduation internship at TracXon, she returned to TNO. ‘At that startup, I saw up close how TNO helps new companies grow. That gave me a whole new perspective.’

She has now been working as a scientist at TNO for over two years. ‘I get a lot of freedom here. For example, I got to single-handedly complete the demonstrator for a new soldering method, which my team had been working on for some time.’

Technology that touches people

Wearables, smart patches you wear on your skin, are her favourite. ‘They measure health, in the hospital or just at home. Thanks to printed electronics, they sit more comfortably on the skin and are less disruptive to a patient’s daily life. We can even add new features, such as ECGs or echocardiograms.’ Recently, Iris saw her work come to life during a test with participants in a room with reduced air pressure. ‘That’s when you realise: my work is really going to help people.’

Creative puzzling

Not every issue is straightforward. ‘Sometime I’m at my wits’ end. You can’t ask anyone how they did that two years ago. What I’m working on has often never been done before. But when you succeed, it’s enormously satisfying.’

Learning by doing

At TNO, Iris is given the space to choose her own path. ‘I learn mostly by seeing and experiencing things. So I recently visited an international trade fair. I take the ideas that emerged there back to the lab. It’s nice that TNO listens to what I need.’

Conscious and skilled

Working on printed electronics also makes Iris more conscious of sustainability. ‘This summer, a friend wanted to throw away her broken electric piano. I couldn't let that happen! I took it apart, repaired it, and now play it almost every day. Because of my work, I look at electronics differently and I have the skills to fix that piano, for example.’