Goodbye indium-tin oxide, Hello GraphExeter (a.k.a
graphene)
A new graphene-based material developed at Exeter University in
Britain could supersede indium tin oxide in electronic devices.
According to a press release from the University of Exeter, “the
most transparent, lightweight and flexible material ever for
conducting electricity has been invented by a team from the
University of Exeter.”
They’ve called it GraphExeter and the announcement says the
material could revolutionize the creation of wearable electronic
devices, such as clothing containing computers, phones, and MP3
players. GraphExeter could also be used for the creation of "smart"
mirrors or windows, with computerised interactive features. Since
this material is also transparent over a wide light spectrum, it
could enhance by more than 30% the efficiency of solar panels.
Adapted from graphene, GraphExeter is much more flexible than
indium tin oxide, the main conductive material currently used in
electronics. ITO is becoming increasingly expensive and is a finite
resource, expected to run out in 2017.
To create GraphExeter, the Exeter team sandwiched molecules of
ferric chloride between two layers of graphene. Ferric chloride
enhances the electrical conductivity of graphene, without affecting
the material’s transparency. The material was produced by a team
from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Graphene Science. The
research team is now developing a spray-on version of GraphExeter,
which could be applied straight on to fabrics, mirrors, and
windows.
Dr Monica Craciun, lead researcher from Exeter University said:
“Another beauty of the GraphExeter is this material is transparent
over a much wider light spectrum than the typical transparent
conductor,’ said Craciun. ‘In other words, if implemented in a
solar panel, the GraphExeter would allow energy to be harvested
over a much wider range of light than what is currently exploited,
boosting the efficiency of solar panels by more than 30 per
cent.”
A report in the venerable magazine The Engineer (it was founded in
1856) notes that, until now graphene has been unable to replace the
most widespread transparent conductor in optoelectronic
applications, indium tin oxide, due to its relatively poor
conductivity.
http://www.graphiteblog.com/2012/05/goodbye-indium-tin-oxide…