Jackson (MS) - Researchers at Jackson State University have developed an 89% transparent, flexible substrate material which is coated with conductive carbon nanotubes.  These are unique in that they remain excellent conductors of electricity even when the material is significantly flexed or bent.  Could carbon nanotubes be part of the solution which finally brings us roll-up displays?
 
 
The researchers discovered that if they took boron-doped carbon nanotubes, which provide good electrical and mechanical properties, and placed them on a transparent substrate, the result was a flexible electrical pathway that can be used to create electrodes.  The researchers have used these electrodes to create a flexible light-emitting device.  Both the anode and cathode are transparent which, even when repeatedly bent, twisted, rolled or folded completely over, continue to conduct electricity without losing any notable properties.

The electrical pathways are created by uniformly dispersing carbon nanotubes in a homogeneous 20nm thin film layer of an undisclosed polymer solution sitting atop a thin sheet of transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET).  A process called spin coating is used to deposit the carbon nanotubes into/onto the polymer.  After creating the material it is allowed to cure.  Researchers began testing its electrical properties and very quickly discovered that the flexible substrate maintains nearly all of its electrical properties regardless of temperature, humidity, some extreme atmospheric conditions, even when under significant repeated stresses.

Sights are now focused on looking at possible uses for the material.  These mostly include rollable displays, primarily for military applications, but also for consumers.  Electronic paper and other similar devices are also being considered.  Basically, the idea is that with a clear substrate material able to convey electrical signals on its surface, anything that can use their 89% transparent properties is desirable.  Even watch faces could be built using the material.

To facilitate its usefulness ever further, research efforts are currently under way to create p-type and n-type junctions from materials that can be deposited on the surface.  These would create flexible surface transistors.  The ultimate idea here is to create a single-source substrate material which can be built in a bulk process and used for whatever logic, electrical conveyance and illumination the final device requires.

With a significant distribution of transistor-based logic across the material's surface, many interesting possibilities open up.  These include incredibly thin, very inexpensive devices which could be worn or sewn into clothing.  Imagine wearing a T-Shirt which advertises your favorite sports team with an animated clip taken from last night's game.  Also, if the cost of making future carbon nanotubes in a bulk processes is considered, one which ultimately brings the current costs down significantly, then compared to the extreme expenses associated with some modern transparent process technologies, this could prove to be a significant finding.

Current transparent electrode processes often involve Indium tin oxide, which is not very flexible and does not maintain its electrical characteristics when under stress.  Also, some organic polymers are used, but they have a problem in that they break down when exposed to oxygen.  The research effort was led by Quinton Williams.  Several other U.S. scientists contributed to this finding.
  
 

I'm waiting for some university to make pizza from ...

Nov 07, 2007 15:07     

I'm waiting for some university to make pizza from carbon-nanotubes.
M'ichal report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

don't be ridiculous

Nov 07, 2007 18:13     

if it could be done they would have already
steven report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

yea that makes sense

Nov 08, 2007 00:26     

no, I think not
durrr report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

is there anything CNT's cant do?

Nov 08, 2007 01:28     

besides the obvious, carbon nanotubes seem to be the material of the future; cheap flexible screens, super strong armor, high accuracy sensors, nano transmitters and receivers and who knows what more!
Mihael report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

All new possibilities for......

Nov 08, 2007 01:44     

Interesting.... "...Imagine wearing a T-Shirt which advertises your favorite sports team with an animated clip taken from last night's game." I could see where thinkgeek.com could be using this. (Even geekier shirts...)
amnotanoobie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

sweet dreams

Nov 08, 2007 04:29     

looks like carbon nanotubes are the perfect solution for just about everything. but, we're going to have a carbon nanotube religion way berfore seing the actual products. bow down to the new gods! :))
ceteras report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I'll have a slice of that pizza...

Nov 08, 2007 07:06     

...but they've got all the scientists working on carbon nanoporn. It's what really drives technology.
spanko report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Woah!

Nov 08, 2007 09:22     

Combine flexible carbon nanotubes and light emmiting polymers, and you have a cheap power efficient single layer display.
cmak report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

This technology is NOT NEW!

Nov 18, 2007 14:45     

This technology has been around since 2002. These guys at Jackson have just reproduced countless experiments from researchers at the University of Florida, UCLA, EIKOS, and others. It's sad that this hype is perpetuating the internet. [We appreciate you telling us this as it is good information. -Rick]
nano report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0