Touch panel - Page 5

Researchers from the UK's University of Exeter discovered a new graphene based material that can be used as an ITO replacement - it's a lightweight, flexible and transparent conductor. In fact it's more flexible than ITO. They call it GraphExeter.

To create the new material, the researchers compressed ferric chloride molecules between two sheets of graphene. They are also working on a spray-on version of the material.

The following article was sent to us by Corey McCarren and Dr. Elena Polyakova from Graphene Laboratories (a Graphene-Info sponsor), discussing Graphene Oxide and its applications:

Graphene, a multi or single layer sheet of graphite, is considered a key material in producing the next generation of low-cost carbon-based transparent and flexible electronics. Graphene is the strongest material available, as well as being highly transparent, flexible, and the best conductor of heat and electricity. Great effort is devoted to developing an effective yet inexpensive way to produce graphene materials in industrial quantities.

Researchers from Rice University created thin hybrid metal-graphene electrodes - that outperform ITO electrodes, are also more transparent and less resistance to electric current. These electrodes can be used to create non-glass touch displays, transparent and flexible OLEDs, solar cells and lighting products.

The new electrode is a thin film of single-layer graphene and a fine grid of metal nanowire. It's basically a hybrid-graphene electrode. The metal is used to enhance the conductivity at the required transparency. The metal grid strengthens the graphene, and the graphene fills all the empty spaces between the grid. The researchers found a grid of five-micron nanowires made of inexpensive, lightweight aluminum did not detract from the material's transparency.

Angstron Materials announced that its Graphene material is being used by a 'major manufacturer' to produce sensing components for touch screens. The company says that this is the world's first commercial graphene application.

We don't know the exact product yet - and how the Graphene is used in it.