Innovation in Transparent Electronics

2001/04/09 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Elektronika

Oregon State University has developed new ‘p-type’ semiconductors that can be used in transparent electronic systems. The conductivity of these materials is 200 times higher than that of the best current ones.

These materials are invisible when placed on the glass. Electrical circuits made on this material can have many applications. Nowadays they are circuits used in touch screens. However, researchers consider that there is a big difference between the characteristics of the new material and those of conventional transparent circuits, so it is still not possible to perceive which new applications will be invented in this field. This will be the next step in research and should be done by engineers.

Chemists who have developed the new material do not believe that we have to wait too long to see the applications in the market. In short, flat installation screens can be used in cars or optical display circuits.

Most conductive materials are opaque, but today they are transparent on the market. However, the need to build increasingly complex electrical systems is emerging. For the manufacture of diodes and transistors semiconductors are mandatory and for this are necessary materials that conduct electrons and holes with positive charge. The latter are called “p”.

Few laboratories are investigating the development of such materials. Most laboratories are located in Japan. Therefore, until recently ‘p-type’ semiconductors could lead a very small current. Now American scientists have researched copper oxide based materials and achieved the greatest success with copper and chrome oxides. These results have been obtained within the framework of a research program for cooperation between chemists and engineers.