A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota have recently developed a thin transparent material which is highly conductive in its class and can be used to make smaller and more efficient electronics and solar cells in the future.
This Transparent Film Can Transform Future Electronics And Solar Cells
Researchers at the University of Minnesota announced last week the discovery of new nanoscale transparent film material that has the highest conductivity in its class. The novelty can result in the creation of more compact, fast and powerful electronics, as well as improve the solar cell solutions available today.
Described in Nature Communications, the new technology draws attention precisely to its conductivity. The material has a large bandwidth, which means light can easily pass through it – something that also helps make it transparent to human eyes.
Generally, materials with a high bandwidth are known for their low conductivity or low transparency, which is why the finding is particularly interesting. According to Bharat Jalan, a chemical engineer at the University of Minnesota, the technology could be used in a variety of electronics, touch screens, and even solar cells.
Unconventional Materials
The novelty also stands out for not using Indian in its composition – material generally found in transparent solutions whose price has risen a lot in recent years. The new film is the result of a process of synthesis that combines elements such as barium, tin, and oxygen, which helps reduce the price of the final product.
“We were surprised how well this unconventional decision worked the first time we tested the tin precursor,” says chemical engineer Abhinav Prakash, the lead author of the paper. “It was a big risk, but that resulted in a great breakthrough.”
According to those responsible for the project, the material must still undergo improvements that involve the correction of defects at the atomic scale. There is no timeframe for the solution to become commercially viable, which means that we will have to wait a few years (or decades) for it to bring substantial changes to the world of technology.
So, what do you think about this new technology? Simply share your views and thoughts in the comment section below.
