US engineers have created the world's first transparent transistor using a cheap, environmentally friendly compound.
Announced yesterday, the world's first transparent transistor has been created by engineers at Oregon State University following several years of research. Although transparent electrically conductive materials have been around since the 1940's the new semiconductors, which use basic electron transport and move quickly and efficiently.
The new transistors are made from a common compound which blocks out ultraviolet light and is cheap, safe and easy to work with. Similar in nature to Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, applications could include clearer, brighter LCD panels, heads up displays built into car windscreens and possible military use.