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Chameleon Liquid Could Replace LCDs

Posted by Zonk on from the i'm-made-of-liquid-metal dept.

InvisblePinkUnicorn writes "NewScientist reports on a color-changing liquid that could cheaply replace the color components of standard LCDs. According to researchers at UC Riverside, the liquid 'contains tiny iron oxide particles coated with plastic. It is cheap and easy to make, and could also be used in flexible, rewritable, electronic paper.' From the article: 'The opposing forces of electrostatic repulsion [in the plastic] and magnetic attraction [in the iron oxide] result in the particles arranging themselves into an ordered structure, known as a colloidal "photonic crystal". The colloidal crystal reflects light because the spacing between neighboring particles in the structure is equivalent to the wavelength of light. Also, tuning the spacing slightly alters the exact wavelength, or colour, of light that is reflected. This can easily be done by varying the strength of the magnetic field applied to the crystal.'"

5 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Response time? by MSTCrow5429 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    What would the response time be for these iron-oxide particle coated with plastic goop be? Anything over 6 or 8ms would be a problem for anything but static displays.

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    1. Re:Response time? by TubeSteak · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The display could be used for certain PDA's, smart phones, electronic books/newspapers, etc
      Wouldn't the whole 'susceptible to magnetic intereference' be a problem for a portable screen?
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    2. Re:Response time? by MontyApollo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Maybe...

      It just depends on how susceptible. Weren't floppy disks susceptible to being erased by magnetic interference, but people rarely took special precautions.

  2. One major advantage to LCDs... by Jazz-Masta · · Score: 2, Interesting

    is that they aren't susceptible to magnetic interference. With modern day TV rooms, this is essential. Even though everyone claims they have "magnetically shielded" speakers, put a few big ones close to a CRT, then tell me whether or not they are truly "magnetically shielded."

  3. I think he's right... by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In the good old days we had CRT monitors at 60Hz, and even at 50Hz and guess what? They didn't flicker! And neither does your TV!!

    Nope. The phosphor is designed for that particular refresh rate.

    The problems started when PCs decided they wanted to refresh at lots of different rates so the phosphor was designed for the highest rates supported by the monitor.

    Result? 60Hz flickered like mad on them.

    So...he's right and you're wrong. Ergo, you suck.

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