Australia- A group of researchers at the University of Queensland develop a composite glass that is nearly unbreakable. The team says it can be used in smartphones, televisions, and computers, and even LED lights. Furthermore, one of the engineers Jingwei Hou believes it can also turn phone screens into mini solar panels.

The team was working in collaboration with researchers from the University of Leeds, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Paris-Saclay. Researchers say that the glass will not only help in providing stunning picture quality. But also can convert light into energy through the Nano glass on a smartphone.

What material will be used for unbreakable glass?

Chemical engineer Jingwei Hou, University of Queensland, says that the glass currently in use for phones is very dense and inflexible. Which means it breaks easily. However, the material they will use is call perovskite, a calcium titanium Oxide Crystal.  He says that the researchers found perovskite ‘’nanocrystals’’ were extremely sensitive to air, water, heat, and light. Therefore, the team uses a process to stabilize, enhance efficiency and inhibit toxic lead icons to make it a functional material.

They use Zinc and an organic molecule that can bind to Zinc. Then use mechanical force to turn it into a glass. Hou says, using it in the phones means ‘’ it would be the equivalent of upgrading from an iPhone 1 to a DSLR camera.’’. Also, UQ faculty of engineering Executive Dean Vicki Chen says, the technology is scalable and opens doors for many other applications.

What do experts have to say about the research?

Technology expert and Vertical Hold podcast co-host Alex Kidman says the glass in smartphones had gotten better over the years. ‘’ We have had increasingly more vigorous glass, especially if you are a buyer of premium phones.’’

‘’But even then there is a bit of a balancing act between firmness- whether or not it is going to smash- and Scratch resistance.’’

Moreover, it is very difficult to fix a smartphone screen by third parties. Meanwhile, repairing costs a lot of money. The research is very exciting for the industry. This means there will be less costly, and also less e-waste, potentially less energy use.

The research has been publish in the Journal science. The team is hopeful about the sorts of benefits add with it.