Scientists have developed technology to create flexible and completely transparent electronic circuits 0

Thin-film optically transparent materials, which are electrical conductors, are already widely used in modern electronics, including the production of touch displays, computer screens and solar panels. Invisible areas of transparent material act as conductors, which are an indispensable attribute of any electronic circuit. However, modern technologies that ensure the transparency of electronics have one drawback, as the main materials are conductive oxides of some metals, which are hard and brittle from a mechanical point of view. The fragilit
y of the material means that the electronic device partially or completely loses its performance even with small mechanical deformation , which makes it impossible to create elastic transparent electronics. But in order to create the next generation of invisible wearable and bioelectronic devices, first of all, transparent conductors are required, made of a soft and elastic material that can withstand significant deform
ations. The team of Professor Carmel Majidi of Carnegie-Malone University has found a new material, ideal suitable for creating transparent conductive film conductors. The new material is distinguished by a fairly high specific electrical conductivity and high elasticity. This material is a special kind of alloy, the eutectic gallium-indium alloy (EGaIn), which is liquid at room temperature. And the conductors made of such an alloy are an invisible thinnest mesh, made on the surface of elastic plastic or silicone rubber using laser micro-manufacturing technology. To de
monstrate the workability of the new technology, the researchers created a section of an electronic circuit with several tiny multi-colored LEDs. And these LEDs continued to emit light even when the entire circuit was stretched two to three times its original size.

Source: www.dailytechinfo.org