On July 30th, a report from the Physicist Organization Network revealed that American scientists have successfully tackled key challenges in creating electronic devices and solar cells from affordable, durable, and non-toxic materials. This breakthrough brings us one step closer to low-cost touchpads and solar panels that could cost just a few dollars. The findings were published in the latest issue of *Nature Communications*.
Uvi Kotschagan, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Minnesota and co-author of the study, shared her excitement: “This technology could allow children in developing countries to access learning tools like touchpads for under $10. In the long run, home solar energy systems may become cheaper than fossil fuels.â€
Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a unique type of ink called “electronic ink†using harmless nanoscale silicon crystals. This ink can be printed on plastic, enabling the creation of inexpensive electronic devices.
Dr. Lance Weiler, the lead researcher from the University of Minnesota’s Mechanical Engineering department, compared the process to printing numbers on a baseball jersey, though it is far more complex. He explained that producing this kind of silicon-based ink involves several technical hurdles.
One major challenge is that traditional methods require organic molecules known as “ligands†to stabilize the ink. However, these ligands can leave behind harmful residues after printing, degrading the quality of the thin film. Additionally, to improve conductivity, scientists often use a process called “doping,†which involves adding tiny amounts of germanium nanoparticles.
The new method eliminates both issues. By using a non-thermal plasma, researchers created silicon nanocrystals coated with a layer of chlorine atoms. This coating interacts well with common solvents, making it unnecessary to rely on ligands. Furthermore, the resulting thin film is naturally doped during the process, boosting its electrical conductivity by a factor of 1,000.
Kotschagan added, “This research marks significant progress toward producing safer, more stable electronic inks using non-toxic materials. Our goal is to make this technology accessible to everyone.â€
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