Researchers
at CRANN, the Science Foundation Ireland funded nanoscience institute
based in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), have discovered a new material
that could transform the quality, lifespan and efficiency of flat screen
computers, televisions and other devices. The research team was led by
Professor Igor Shvets, a CRANN principal investigator who has successfully
launched and sold two spin out companies from TCD and who is involved in
the Spirit of Ireland energy project. A patent application protecting
the new material was filed by TCD.

“This is an exciting
development with a range of applications and we are hopeful this initial
research will attract commercial interest in order to explore its
industrial use,” said Shvets. “The new material could lead to innovations such as
window-integrated flat screens and to increase the efficiency of certain
solar cells, thus significantly impacting on the take-up of solar
cells, which can help us to reduce carbon emissions.”

“Ireland is one of the leading countries in the world for
nanoscience research, a discipline which is closely linked with
technology improvements. We are working with leading companies such as
Intel and HP in this sphere and helping them to improve their products
using our innovative research methods. This new material could be of
real significance to our industry partners. I look forward to seeing
Professor Shvets and his team develop this research further and
realising its commercial potential,” said Diarmuid O’Brien, executive director of CRANN.

Devices
that the new material could be used with such as solar cells, flat
screen TVs, computer monitors, LEDs all utilize materials that can
conduct electricity and at the same time are see-through. These devices
currently use transparent conducting oxides, which are a good compromise
between electrical conductivity and optical transparency. They all have
one fundamental limitation: they all conduct electricity through the
movement of electrons. Such materials are referred to as n-type
transparent conducting oxides. Electricity can also be conducted through
as p-type materials. Modern day electronics make use of n-type and
p-type materials. The lack of good quality p-type transparent conducting
oxides, however, led the research team to develop a new material—a
p-type transparent conducting oxide.

 Magnesium, nitrogen codoped Cr2O3: A p-type transparent conducting oxide

Source: CRANN