New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics

Date:
September 24, 2014
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
As tech company LG demonstrated this summer with the unveiling of its 18-inch flexible screen, the next generation of roll-up displays is tantalizingly close. Researchers are now reporting a new, inexpensive and simple way to make transparent, flexible transistors -- the building blocks of electronics -- that could help bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays and other bendable gadgets to consumers in just a few years.
Share:
FULL STORY

As tech company LG demonstrated this summer with the unveiling of its 18-inch flexible screen, the next generation of roll-up displays is tantalizingly close. Researchers are now reporting in the journal ACS Nano a new, inexpensive and simple way to make transparent, flexible transistors -- the building blocks of electronics -- that could help bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays and other bendable gadgets to consumers in just a few years.

Yang Yang and colleagues note that transistors are traditionally made in a multi-step photolithography process, which uses light to print a pattern onto a glass or wafer. Not only is this approach costly, it also involves a number of toxic substances. Finding a greener, less-expensive alternative has been a challenge. Recently, new processing techniques using metal oxide semiconductors have attracted attention, but the resulting devices are lacking in flexibility or other essential traits. Yang's team wanted to address these challenges.

The researchers developed inks that create patterns on ultrathin, transparent devices when exposed to light. This light sensitivity precludes the need for harsh substances or high temperatures. "The main application of our transistors is for next-generation displays, like OLED or LCD displays," said Yang. "Our transistors are designed for simple manufacturing. We believe this is an important step toward making flexible electronics widely accessible."

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. You Seung Rim, Huajun Chen, Yongsheng Liu, Sang-Hoon Bae, Hyun Jae Kim, Yang Yang. Direct Light Pattern Integration of Low-Temperature Solution-Processed All-Oxide Flexible Electronics. ACS Nano, 2014; 8 (9): 9680 DOI: 10.1021/nn504420r

Cite This Page:

American Chemical Society. "'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 September 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140924113519.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2014, September 24). 'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140924113519.htm
American Chemical Society. "'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140924113519.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES