Screen time to improve with novel single pixel display design
Screen time to improve with novel single pixel display design lead image
The display of imagery on computers, flatscreen TVs and smartphones would not be possible without transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, which uses electric voltage to manipulate molecules and control light. However, the organic molecules typically used in LCD technology often inhibit light sensitivity and control of color display. This has spurred various proposed alternatives that include orientation layers and color filters, which can be complex and costly to manufacture.
Chen et al. demonstrated a novel LCD device based on 2D inorganic nanosheets of α-zirconium phosphate, successfully realizing the full color display of single pixel liquid crystal without color filters or orientation layers.
“This unusual achievement is possible because of the high Kerr coefficient of the inorganic nanosheet material, enabling first- and second-order interference,” said author Fengxia Geng. “The driving electric field is one to two orders of magnitude lower than that required for organic liquid crystals.”
The researchers developed a prototype device with resolution typical for a full color light-emitting diode (LED) display screen --used in outdoor advertising and indoor event displays – which is able to be increased to 1200 pixels per inch. The simplified device design allows for each cell to be independently controlled, so that adding controllable circuits will more easily enable integration and enhance resolution.
“The prospect of stand-alone single pixel LCD devices that can achieve full color modulation has been the holy grail in the field of display applications,” said Geng. “Considering the advantages of the simple design, the environmental friendliness of both the material and the fabrication process, and the greater stability of inorganic liquid crystals, we expect extensive application prospects.”
Source: “Inorganic nanosheets based electro-optic devices with single-pixel full-color and grayscale control,” by Zhiwei Chen, Zhigang Zhao, Ling Ding, Yaowu Li, Yanan Zhang, Zhenyong Wang, Jinyu Zhou, Ruijia Wang, Wenbin Gong, Zhaochuan Fan, Song Chen, Xiaohong Zhang, and Fengxia Geng, Applied Physics Reviews (2024). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0219299 .
