New and exciting technology is just within our grasp, by the look of things. Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have come up with an intriguing idea to create transistors made of 2D nanomaterials. While that may not sound exciting, these transistors could be used to provide an internet connection to any object in our daily lives, ranging from newspapers to mirrors and everything in between.
A New Era of nanomaterial-based Transistors?
To put this news into perspective, we must first explain what the scientists managed to achieve. It is now possible to create utterly flat electronics that can be printed in next to no cost. As electronics become smaller and flatter, they can be integrated into different materials more easily. For example, such a transistor could be embedded in clothing, newspapers, or even a carton of milk.
The use cases for such transistors could be virtually anything one can think of. One potential use case would see such transistors replace existing price tags and labels in supermarkets. Not only would it give consumers an idea of the price, but it would also alert the store of their stock slowly dwindling. Automating this process can save a lot of time and effort.
Another way to benefit from this technology revolves around using the transistor as an auto-renewing passport. Wine bottles equipped with tech technology will warn users when they are stored in a place where temperatures are not optimal. The possibilities are virtually endless, which is what makes development so exciting. The use of 2D nanomaterials is a significant breakthrough in the technology sector, that much is certain.
More futuristic use cases for these transistors include creating moving newspapers and book jackets. It would create a whole new interactive experience by using everyday objects and bringing them to life. For now, this technology is not accessible to the average consumer yet, but it is not hard to see how these transistors can play a critical role in the future of the Internet of Things. Anything can become connected, which opens a lot of new possibilities and opportunities.
The reason why these nanomaterials are so cheap is because they are made of graphite. Similarly to most other materials found in nature, graphite can be dug out of the ground at multiple locations around the world. Combining cheap materials with groundbreaking technology is something to look forward to in the future, that much is certain. Plus, the scientists are fairly confident their creation does not suffer from performance limitations found in similar electronic products these days.
While all of this sounds great on paper, it will take about a decade or more until this technology effectively becomes a part of consumer-grade products. A lot of research and testing has to be done, but the foundation has been laid for a new era of transistors made out of nanomaterials. Luckily, it appears that scientists have enough financial backing to keep working on this technology without issues. In a few years from now, the first prototypes might start to come to market. It will be interesting to see if these products can live up to the expectations.
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