DENSO Corporation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Canatu to advance the practical application of carbon nanotube technology. By strengthening their partnership, the two companies aim to deepen their collaboration to contribute to the advancement of autonomous driving technology and the realization of carbon neutrality.

As autonomous driving technology continues to evolve, vehicles must accurately detect their surroundings using cameras and other sensors. However, issues such as frost and condensation can obstruct visibility and complicate detection. To address these challenges, DENSO is developing products that utilize transparent conductive films made from flexible, transparent materials. Carbon nanotube technology is key to these developments.

Carbon nanotubes are carbon-based materials with extremely fine structures, characterized by high strength, light weight, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. They hold great promise for a wide range of applications. Canatu has innovative technology that enables the efficient production of high-purity carbon nanotubes using proprietary materials and has strengths in transparent conductive film formation.

DENSO has been collaborating with Canatu by combining Canatu’s advanced transparent conductive film technology with DENSO’s expertise in automotive technology and mass production. In April this year, the companies successfully developed a reactor at Canatu’s production facility in Finland, significantly enhancing the productivity of carbon nanotubes. They have also been jointly developing transparent heaters for vehicle cameras and windshields.

Moving forward, DENSO and Canatu will continue to drive efforts toward the commercialization of transparent heaters while also expand their application to environmental technologies. Their goal is to establish technologies that contribute to carbon neutrality.

DENSO and Canatu will accelerate initiatives in the following three areas to achieve practical applications of carbon nanotube technology:

1. Research and Development. Develop new applications, including transparent heaters and solar power technologies, utilizing carbon nanotubes.

2. Mass Production Technologies. Collaborate on improving manufacturing equipment and processes to achieve the quality required for mass production.

3. Global Supply Chain Development. Begin exploring the establishment of a reliable supply system to ensure the stable and consistent delivery of high-quality products.