While smartphone technology has advanced rapidly over the past few years, it still gives us better battery life and photo-taking capabilities. However, they still have screens that crack when dropped or knocked.
Scientists have made positive progress in the development of lead halide perovskite screens (LHP), which offer high-quality brightness, clarity, as well as exceptional strength. These screens could be used to fit into the phones, televisions and laptops that will come the future.
Although the material is nanocrystal-based, it has been promising as a base for displays. However, it is very sensitive to light and heat. It is currently only capable of functioning as a screen technology in the rarefied atmosphere of a laboratory.
It can also leak toxic metal ions which can be dangerous for electronics products. LHP displays are now being investigated by researchers. They trap the LHP material within glass.
Jingwei Hou (chemical engineer, University of Queensland) says that a team of material scientists and chemical engineers has created a way to wrap or bind nanocrystals within porous glass.
This is a key step in stabilizing the material and enhancing its efficiency. It also prevents toxic lead ions (leaching from the materials) from being released.
Bonus points if the nanocrystal-based, perovskite-based material is being considered as a next-generation base for solar panel panels. It can be used as a display and can also be modified to convert sunlight into electricity.
Researchers behind the study found that the prototype product showed "high stability" in the face of heat, light and humidity. It was also able to retain its luminescence for up to 80 percent after 10,000 hours of immersion in water.
This is still in its very early stages. Although it will take years for technology to create unbreakable phones screens, glass is a significant step forward.
Hou says that QLED, or quantum dot light emitting diode screens, are currently the best performing for image display and performance. This research will allow us to improve upon this nanocrystal technology, offering amazing picture quality and strength.
Materials scientists continue to make great strides in display technology. However, the time it takes for a lab proof of concept to become a final product is still substantial.
Scientists are developing screens that won't crack and that can also heal themselves when they're broken. It takes time to scale up the material and make it mass-produced.
This latest study will benefit all aspects perovskite research, not only in electronic displays, but also in making it more stable and easier to deploy as part of a panel.
Vicki Chen, a chemical engineer at the University of Queensland, says that nanocrystals can be made more durable and can also be tuned for opto-electronic capabilities with high light emission efficiency and highly desired white light LEDs.
"This discovery opens the door to a new generation in nanocrystal-glass compounds for energy conversion and catalysis."
Science has published the research.
