Coming to a store near you: cell phone screens that don't break, no matter how many times you drop them or run them over with your car (or bus). We've been promised unbreakable smartphone screens for years but, finally, a team of geniuses from the University of Akron appear to have actually created them.
Unlike the normal, fragile screen coating ITO ( indium tin oxide) used in nearly all phones, the new conductive polymer created by the Akron researchers is super-tough and flexible. It's basically a mesh of metal electrodes (nanowires) implanted in a special plastic and, according to some experts, it could revolutionize the electronics industry.
The new polymer film is also cheaper to produce and doesn't rely on hard-to-find minerals like ITO films do. It could be used on everything from LCD displays to high-definition TV screens to airplane windows because of its durability and ability to bend without cracking.
According to lead researcher Dr. Yu Zhu:
"We expect this film to emerge on the market as a true ITO competitor... The annoying problem of cracked smartphone screens may be solved once and for all with this flexible touchscreen”.
Learn some mo': Shatterproof screens that save smartphones
