• H2020
• Excellent Science

Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, have pioneered the use of graphene to discover an innovative technique to improve flexible screens.

Engineers and physicists have combined to create ‘GraphExeter’, a new material adapted form graphene, that significantly increases efficiency and effectiveness in flexible lighting devices.

GraphExeter is the most transparent, lightweight and flexible material for electrical conductivity. Rather than use pure graphene, the Exeter team have developed the new material to increase brightness in flexible lights by a value of almost 50%.

University of Exeter physicist and lead researcher Dr Saverio Russo said: “This exciting development shows there is a bright future for the use of GraphExeter in transforming flexible lighting on a mass scale, and could help revolutionise the electronics industry.

“Not only are lights that utilise GraphExeter much brighter, they are also far more resilient to repeated flexing, which makes ‘bendy’ screens much more feasible for day to day goods such as mobile phones.”

Flexible screens are still a new development with limitations in both size and light intensity. GraphExeter, however, causes a lit screen to display a brighter, more consistent light intensity than in any previous device. Furthermore, continued flexing of the screens resulted in less integral damage, giving them a longer shelf-life and augmenting th eappeal to commercial industries.

Dr Monica Craciun, also from the University of Exeter, added: “The next step will be to embed these ultra-flexible GraphExeter lights on textile fibres and pioneer groundbreaking applications in health care light therapy.”

Graphene is a substance with a single atomic thickness. Capable of electrical conductivity, whilst being both flexible and robust, it’s contribution to innovative products is increasing exponentially.