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Graphene-Based Ink for Transparent & Flexible Printed Electronics

Researchers at the UK's University of Cambridge have developed a graphene-based ink with properties including flexibility, optical transparency, and electrical conductivity. A printed piano prototype, designed in collaboration with Novalia Limited, demonstrates the ink's potential. The keys of the transparent piano are made from graphene-based inks, which have been printed onto a plastic film. These keys, working as electrodes, are connected to a simple electronic circuit-board, a battery, and speaker. When a person touches the graphene electrode, the amount of electrical charge held in the key changes. This is then detected and redirected by the circuit to the speaker, creating the musical note. The University of Cambridge researchers also developed a flexible prototype digital display in collaboration with Printed Electronics Limited. The display uses conventional printable materials, but with a transparent, electrically conductive graphene layer on top. The graphene layer is flexible and more conductive and transparent than the conventional polymer it replaces.

Topics:
Batteries Displays/Monitors/HMIs Electronic Components Electronics & Computers Imaging Manufacturing & Prototyping Materials Plastics Power Semiconductors & ICs

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    Transcript

    00:00:00 much has been made of the remarkable properties of the one atom thick material graphene but in many cases more research will have to be done before that potential becomes reality this simple toy piano developed in collaboration with the company neva Lea offers a taste of the future by showing what graphene can do the transparent keys of this piano have been printed

    00:00:22 from a graphene based ink develops at the Cambridge graphene Center this is placed over electrodes which are connected to a simple circuit and at the other end to a speaker the graphene ink is conductive so when a person touches in electrode a change in the electric charge of holes is detected and redirected to the circuit this commands the speaker to play the appropriate note

    00:00:46 this digital display which could be used in a range of devices is also printed with graphene ink graphene makes the display much more flexible than conventional materials its flexibility and negligible weight means that it cannot be easily cracked or broken even if it is bent or dropped on the floor principle electronics like this could be used for much more serious purposes in

    00:01:11 the future for example by printing these inks onto clothing it could be possible to embed heart monitors and other sensors or displays onto clothes printable sensors could also be used for other purposes like tracking luggage at an airport or other objects across the production and supply chain you