Unbreakable glass inspired by chocolate chip cookies

An international team of researchers has developed shatter-resistant glass that could be used to make LED lights, phones and TV screens.

The new synthetic glass could be used to create self-luminous antibacterial displays with high image quality for electronic devices, and with production costs comparable to today's most advanced glass. A team of 27 experts from Australia, Britain, China, France, Japan, Singapore, Slovenia and the US published their findings in the journal Science on October 29.

The researchers used a new type of glass to create the light bulb. (Photo: SCMP)

Lead researcher Hou Jingwei, a chemical engineer at the University of Queensland in Australia, said that when he shipped samples of the objective lenses to colleagues around the world, he did not need to label fragile items. "The material is made from the mineral zinc. Australia is one of the largest exporters of zinc ore in the world with a selling price of $100 a ton. We can convert zinc ore into a glassy material easily without any problems. need toxic solvents. We use perovskite nanocrystals like the chocolate chip in a cookie , " Hou said.

Perovskite is a material that can convert light into electrical energy but is extremely sensitive to light, temperature, air and water. The team developed a process to encapsulate or bond nanocrystals in porous glass to stabilize the material and increase performance.

According to Hou, the two-year project began over an afternoon tea at Cambridge University. When asked what happens to the new glass when it falls, Hou replied that the material is like a dish sponge. "When you press down, it compresses. But when you release it, it returns to its original shape and state , " Hou said.

Due to perovskite's property of converting light into electrical energy, the new glasses can also charge devices by absorbing light from the environment. The material has potential uses as X-ray film, providing higher resolution. It can also help prevent electronic device screens from cracking, thereby reducing repair costs, recycling and environmental impact.