PRESS RELEASE

nano tech 2011

Carbon Touchscreen

Thanks to touchscreens, smart phones and other hand-

held devices are becoming more and more popular. These
small screens, however, consist of rare and expensive mate-
rials. Researchers at Fraunhofer have developed an alter-
native display made from renewable, low-cost und ubiq-
uitous raw materials such as the carbon nanotubes.

Our researchers will be unveiling this new display at the

nano tech exhibition, which will be held from 16th to
18th February, East Hall 5, Booth E-18-11.

With the advent of the iPhone touchscreens have become

pervasive among cell phones and other electronic devices.
The days of simply typing are over. Using two fingers,
it is now possible to open a menu or rotate pictures. A
crucial element, which permits such real-time interaction,
is the indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode film beneath the
display’s glass surface. ITO has ideal characteristics for
this application. Not only is it highly conductive, but it
does not obstruct the display’s colors. There is only one
problem: Indium reserves are very scarce. Manufacturers
fear price hikes due to limited supply. This is why indium
belongs to the so-called “strategic metals.”

Obviously, ITO alternatives with similar performance are

greatly needed. Researchers at Fraunhofer have succeeded
Contact:
in developing an electrode material that not only rivals
Fraunhofer Institute for Manu-
ITO’s qualities, but also is much cheaper to produce. It
facturing Engineering and
consists of carbon nanotubes und inexpensive polymers
Automation IPA
using the universal element - carbon. This novel electrode
film is composed of two layers. First, the substrate is a
Ivica Kolaric
thin film made from the inexpensive plastic polyethyl-
Phone: +49 (0)711 970 3729
enterephthalat (PET). Second, a mixture of carbon
E-Mail: ivica.kolaric@ipa.fraun-
nanotubes and conductive polymers, which is applied on
hofer.de
the PET, building a conductive network.
www.ipa.fraunhofer.de
PRESS RELEASE
nano tech 2011

So far, the durability of such polymer compounds, compared

to ITO, has been lacking. Polymers degrade when exposed
to moisture, pressure or UV light. The layers become frail
and break down. Now, with carbon nanotubes these
problems are a thing of the past. The carbon nanotubes
harden on the PET making a stable network, a type of
shielding, which allows for the anchoring of the conductive
polymers. This carbon nanotube structure renders the
layers much more durable. “The electrical resistance of
our film may be higher than that of ITO,” admits IPA
project manager Ivica Kolaric, “yet it is still more than
suitable for electronic devices”. Moreover, the advantages
to carbon nanotubes are undeniable: Carbon is not
only inexpensive and available anywhere in the world,
it is also a renewable resource that can be gained from
wood. Mr. Kolaric and his colleagues will be unveiling
their carbon-display technology at the nano tech exhibition.
Mr. Kolaric is not only considering cell phones, e-paper
or other hand-held devices. As opposed to ITO, which is
applied to the glass surface, the carbon nanotubes film
is flexible. “It would even be possible to produce
photovoltaic foils in order to cover curved rooftops or
other uneven structures.” Production at the IPA is already
in its pilot phase. The next step is to optimize the film for
various applications.

Contact:
Fraunhofer Institute for Manu-
facturing Engineering and
Automation IPA

Ivica Kolaric
Phone: +49 (0)711 970 3729
E-Mail: ivica.kolaric@ipa.fraun-
hofer.de
www.ipa.fraunhofer.de