Low Cost, High Definition Transparent Display Developed Through Nanotechnology

Researchers from MIT and Harvard departments of Physics, and the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center have teamed up to develop a low cost, scalable, and high resolution display system using nanoparticles that can be displayed on transparent glass.

The system works by applying silver nanoparticles on a transparent glass screen. Like a filter, this allows other colors to pass through leaving the color used by the laser projector to show up on the display. The nanoparticles interact with a single color and lets others go through just like regular glass.

As an example, the transparent display in the picture above shows the blue MIT logo on the glass screen but not on the three cups behind it. (Image credit: Chia Wei Hsu and Bo Zhen)

Applications for this technology are varied from flexible and scrollable displays, 3D transparent screens, and even peel-and-stick projection foils. Windows of buildings can be used for advertising as it only entails applying the nanoparticle layer on it.

The transparent display is scalable allowing high definition images to come up even on large displays. It is even inexpensive. The demo unit only cost less than ten dollars to develop.

Scientists Observe Spatial Coherence in Light Absorbed by Organic Nanostructures

This is the experimental setup used to generate femtosecond laser pulses which serve as an ultrafast "flash" for the camera so that very rapid phenomenon can be filmed.
Credit: Simon Gelinas

Physicists observed that artificial organic nanostructures absorb light the same way expensive inorganic materials absorbs light. The absorbed light quickly separates into formed charges over long distances. This can then be used to generate electricity or for chemical reactions like photosynthesis and solar cell technology.

This phenomenon is called spatial coherence. Spatial coherence allows a charge to travel very quickly over several nanometres and escape from its oppositely charged partner.

Using an ultrafast flash camera, scientist filmed femtosecond (10⁻¹⁵ second) laser pulses that formed charges that spread over multiple molecules rather than limiting the charge to a single molecule. By engineering the arrangement of molecules, they managed to adjust the amplification of the charge separation.

This discovery can lead to inexpensive and energy efficient solar cells.

Nanoplasmonic Bubble Lens Controls Focus and Direction of Light

Credit: Tony Jun Huang, Penn State

Scientists have developed a reconfigurable plasmofluidic lens using nanoplasmonics that can control light waves at the nanoscale. The nanoscale light beam is modulated by surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) which are short electromagnetic waves. The light wave is controlled by the bubble lens which can control the focus and direction of light.

Nanoplasmonics is a new field of science that deals with the behavior of metal particles at the nanoscale and its optical properties. At the nanoscale, light or electromagnetic waves approaches half the size of its wavelength. At this level, the electrical field of light displaces the metal's electrons producing an oscillating field or what is called a surface plasmon. By using certain metal nanoparticles such as gold or silver and manipulating its size and shape, the surface plasmons can be modulated.

Ancient stained glass windows (which contains gold and silver particles) use nanoplasmonic properties to attain its deep vibrant colors when light passes through it.

Currently, manipulating and reconfiguring the focus and direction of these light waves have been difficult. But with the development of reconfigurable plasmofluidic lens, which are essentially tiny bubbles, scientists have found a way to control, switch, and modulate light.

Applications for nanoplasmonics can be found in photovoltaics and optical plasmonic systems. In photovoltaic systems, plasmons can be used to modify the opto-electronic properties for fast photo-detectors and effective photocells. With optical plasmonic systems, devices can be developed that manipulate the optical properties which may lead to the development of inexpensive, fast and small active optical elements.

Nanotechnology Research Develops New Photovoltaic Process Using Gold Nanorods

Researchers in Photovoltaic technology have developed a new method in converting sunlight into electrical energy using gold nanorods.

Research into photovoltaic energy (converting solar rays into electrical energy) has benefited a lot from materials technology and nanotechnology. The main process of a photovoltaic cell or solar cell is using the photons from the sun's rays to basically move electrons around to generate electricity.

At this level, nanotechnology can help push the methods to even higher ground since the technology deals with properties and processes at the molecular and even atomic scale. One application that nanotechnology can contribute to photovoltaic research is the nanorod.

Nanorods are nanostructures that are elongated and shaped like a hotdog. These can range in size from 1 nanometer (nm) to 100nm. These structures interact with light, electricity, and magnetic fields that makes it a very good candidate for semiconductors and photovoltaic applications.

Graphene Shows Potential To Be Efficient Photovoltaic Material In Light Detection and Energy Harvest

Graphene research has shown that the material can be used in the development of efficient solar photovoltaic cells.

Much has been written and discussed about graphene. It has opened up a whole litany of advanced applications that it has been described as "The Wonder Material".

One particular property of graphene that many scientists have been focusing on is how electrons behave and interact with graphene. Graphene, being only one atom thick, allows electron to move much more freely along its surface. The electrons travel through the graphene sheet as if they carry no mass, as fast as just one hundredth that of the speed of light. This makes graphene a great conductor, better than even copper.

Also, since graphene is just one atom thick, diodes, transistors, and other electronic components can be developed on a single-layered device architecture. By using nano-scale electronic channels and tailoring the geometrical symmetry, devices can be operated on at very high speeds of up to 1.5 Terahertz (1,500 GHz). This allows for the development of high speed electronics for various applications and devices.

Researchers have discovered a new property of graphene that allows it to convert a single absorbed photon into multiple electrons. This could open up research into the development of efficient solar cells.

Nanotechnology and Plastics Develop New Type of Lighting That is Flicker-Free, Bendable and Shatterproof

Researchers using nanotechnology and materials engineering have discovered a new type of lighting material that is safer, more durable, and lasts longer. Field-Induced Polymer Electroluminescent technology (FIPEL), may replace conventional lighting in the future.

In Popular Mechanics' list of 101 Gadgets That Changed the World, the light bulb was ranked number 10. The light bulb provided constant illumination to the world and transitioned the dependence of light from the open flame to electrically produced light.

The light bulb works by passing an electric current to a filament (usually tungsten). This allows the tungsten to heat up and glow, producing light. To protect the filament from oxidizing and burning out, it is encased in a glass bulb which is filled with non-reactive gas like argon.

This lead to the development of the fluorescent lamp which although also has a filament, uses atoms to generate ultra violet light that excites the phosphor (a chemical that can emit light) coating inside the tube to light up. The filament is used to heat up the mercury atoms for it to start generating ultra-violet light which in itself is invisible to the naked eye.

Nanophotonics Allow Color Manipulation A Few Atoms Wide With Opaque Objects

Nanophotonics is the study that has anything to do with light at the nanoscale level. The nanoscale level is usually around 1-100 nanometers (nm); a nanometer is one billionth of a meter.

Using nanophotonics, researchers at Harvard have discovered that color can be manipulated at the nanoscale even with opaque objects. These kind of objects are impenetrable by light and are believed cannot exhibit thin-film interference effects.

Thin film interference effects happen when light waves interfere with each other as they pass through a medium and are reflected back out. As they are reflected back, some colors come out brighter while others are lost. An example of this would be rainbow like colors reflected back from an oily puddle on the street.