Regenerates organic led screens from human hair

Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have found a useful source of organic waste, human hair, which can be used to create Oled displays (organic leds).

This organic led device is created by human hair. (Photo: Queensland University of Technology).

In the world, the majority of human hair is cut off in landfills. Therefore, QUT researchers decided to collect this waste material from a local barber and incorporate it into electronics.

Research published in the journal Advanced shows that hair is a good source of carbon and nitrogen, which is very helpful for creating glowing particles. Hair is processed and then burned at 240 ° C, to create a material with carbon and nitrogen in it. The team then turned the material into carbon nanotubes the size of less than 10 nanometers.

The nanodots are then dispersed through a polymer so that they clump together to form what the team calls a 'nano archipelago'. These are the materials used as the active layer in organic led devices.

Researcher Prashant Sonar with Oled device. (Photo: Queensland University of Technology).

When a small voltage passes, the nanodots glow blue. It's not particularly bright, the team said, but it's still useful for small-scale screens, like wearables.

Dr. Prashant Sonar, author of the study, said organic light-emitting devices could be used for a number of indoor applications such as smart packaging. They can also be used when a small light source is needed to signal or in smart median strips. And they can also be used in medical devices because they are non-toxic.

The team said that in the future, animal hair from pet stores or sheep wool could be used in similar devices.