According to foreign media New Atlas, technology can use some more sustainable sources. Now, researchers at Queensland University of Technology have turned to an unusual field. The research team showed that human hair in barber shops can be used to make OLED displays. Most of the broken hair from the barber shop in the world will eventually be landfilled. Therefore, researchers at the University of Queensland decided to collect these waste materials from the local barber shop and incorporate them into electronic devices.
Hair is a good source of carbon and nitrogen, which is very helpful for making glowing particles. After the hair is treated, it burns at a temperature of 240°C (464°F), leaving a material embedded with carbon and nitrogen. The team then turned this material into carbon nanodots with a diameter of less than 10 nanometers. These nanodots are then dispersed together by polymers, where they will gather together to form what the team calls "nano islands." It is these groups that can be used as active layers in OLED devices.
When a very small voltage is applied, these nanodots will glow blue. It's not particularly bright, but the team said it should still be used for small-scale displays, such as wearable devices.
"Human hair-derived organic light-emitting devices based on carbon dots can be used in some indoor applications, such as smart packaging," said Prashant Sonar, author of the study. "They can also be used in places where small light sources are needed, such as in signs or smart bands. Because the materials are non-toxic, they can also be used in medical equipment."
The team said that in the future, animal hair and even wool from pet grooming salons could be used for similar devices.
The research was published in the journal Advanced Materials.
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