UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, MARYLAND, USA. Researchers were able to develop a new type of transistors which they say is at least 84% as transparent as plastic. The inspiration for creating such technology is to pave the way to achieving the first step towards creating paper-based electronics in the near future.

The first thing they had to do was to make sure that the paper they used for printing out the right conductive and semiconductive inks was a suitable substrate. To do so, the researchers used wood pulp that’s been specially treated with enzymes and mechanically beaten to create the right kind of nanopaper they needed for the project. Nanopaper is much stronger and transparent than regular paper. Also, it is perfectly smooth and is as flat as plastic.

3 inks are then printed on the nanopaper to create some transistors. The first layer is a made with carbon nanotubes, followed by a dielectric ink, then a semiconducting ink. Lastly, another layer of nanotubes is added. The nanotubes serve as as a structural backbone aside from being electrodes. The result is a set of transistors that functions well even when bent and is at least 84% transparent.

Liangbing Hu and his team of researchers worked on the project and they believe that the success of the study is another step down the road to creating renewable printed electronics. In the near future, we can expect to hear more about these nanopaper-based transistors and how it will dramatically change the world of electronics.