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Nano Light-Emitting Fibers In the Lab

Posted by kdawson on from the just-apply-an-electric-field dept.

moscowde writes "Researchers at Cornell University have created a so-called Nano-Lamp — a microscopic collection of light-emitting fibers with dimensions of only a few hundred nanometers. The fibers are made of a polymer spiked with ruthenium molecules in a process dubbed 'electrospinning.' The bright spots on the fibers are smaller than the wavelength of the light they emit. The nanofiber glows bright orange when exposed to an electric field and can be seen in the dark with the naked eye. A professor at Princeton University called this 'a breakthrough in the way nanosize light sources are made.' Since the nanofibers are flexible, they could potentially be used in clothing or bendable computer displays."

12 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Bendable screens by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Four questions about bendable screens (which I love the idea of. I would have to update my laptop if they come out with those.) I am not a scientist, so I have no clue what the answers could be.

    1. Since we don't have LED monitors yet, only plasma, DLP, CRT and LCD, would we actually be able to make Nano-light fiber monitors
    2. 100 volts of electricity to make light that can only be seen in a dark room? Would we be able to power this via a battery for any length of time, and would I get electricuted if I dropped it?(1)
    3. Is there any degree of control for which elements in the strand light up?
    4. Are we limited to monochrome screens, or will we use three elements (Lithium, Copper and Cobolt??) for RGB?
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    1. Re:Bendable screens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      For bendable LCD screens, look at this article ( http://www.physorg.com/news5142.html ).

      1. This is not true. If you have a LG, Samsung, Motorola cell phone, then you are using the current technology, OLED (organic LEDs). Please look-up Samsung. On the "open market," Samsung has released their OLED screens (2005; http://www.physorg.com/news5318.html). A possible outcome for the technology presented here is increasing the number of pixels/cm, smaller screen devices.

      2. See item before, cell phones uses lithium batteries that last for about 2-6 hours depending on type of OLED screen. The next generation will use even less energy and possibly last for 8-12 hours, see Samsung.

      3. Yes, see item 1.

      4. No, see item 1.

    2. Re:Bendable screens by dissy · · Score: 3, Informative

      100 volts of electricity to make light that can only be seen in a dark room? Would we be able to power this via a battery for any length of time, and would I get electricuted if I dropped it?

      The fluorescent backlighting in your current laptop requires much more than this to light up right now, usually in the range of 400 - 10000 volts.

      So scale down that voltage to this 'high' voltage of 100v, and compare to your current battery life and frequency of getting shocked when you drop it.

    3. Re:Bendable screens by evanbd · · Score: 4, Informative

      100 volts of electricity to make light that can only be seen in a dark room? Would we be able to power this via a battery for any length of time, and would I get electricuted[sic] if I dropped it?

      Voltage != Power. Power is voltage times current (amps). Increased voltage is not directly connected to power usage, it all depends how much current goes with it. Current CCFL laptop display lights use voltages usually > 1000 volts without any problems with battery life or electrocution hazards.

  2. Off Topic/Racist comment by erroneus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Mark me on this. These fibers will be included in hair weaves and seen frequently in clubs.

    1. Re:Off Topic/Racist comment by OldManAndTheC++ · · Score: 3, Funny

      How is that racist?

      He must be referring to discrimination against light-haired people...

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    2. Re:Off Topic/Racist comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      These fibers will be included in hair weaves and seen frequently in clubs.

      Screw that. I want them woven into women's stockings to look like airport landing lights for...

      Oops. I probably shouldn't have said that out loud. Never mind...

  3. alright guys..... by cyberbob2351 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Lets just get the preliminaries out of the way...
    • Will it run linux?
    • Welcome our new nano-pixel hi-res overlords
    • I'm still stuck on CRT technology you insensitive clod!
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  4. Re:Light by fireslack · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why not cover an entire wall with this stuff? throw in some nano-speakers for the ultimate home entertainment center.

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  5. Re:I am interested to see how this turns out. by maxume · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But also, they will give us contact lens screens that give us the ability to edit the reality that we see, so you can just paste whatever you want over crazy stupid advertising shirts.

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  6. fashion by Khashishi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Somehow I don't think this will ever be a fashion statement.

  7. Re:flexible displays by Nullav · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm pretty sure you could do that with current technology, as none of that requires anything to actually bend during use. Come to think of it, you can also bend OLED displays.

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