Scientist Have Turned Human Hair Into Flexible Displays For Smart Devices

Researchers from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, have discovered a new technique that recycles human hair waste to make flexible displays for smart devices. They have managed to create carbon nanodots from small hair strands. Nanodots are uniform dots with the size of a millionth of a millimeter.

To generate the carbon nanodots, the research team break down the hairs, then burn them at a temperature of 240 degrees C. Then, the nanodots are uniformly dispersed in a polymer.

Then, the nanodots self-assemble, forming small groupings of nanodots, known as “nano-islands.” The islands preserve the emission from a material in a solid-state and act as an active layer in OLED (organic light-emitting diode) devices. This results in a device that’s able to light up with a blue color using just a little voltage.

According to associate professor Prashant Sonar, the use of human hair derived carbon dot-based OLED screens can be applied to smart packaging. We could also use them as a smart light source for smart bands or signs, or in medical devices due to the material’s non-toxicity.

Sonar also said that the reason why they chose hair for the source of carbon dots is that it’s a natural source of nitrogen and carbon. Plus, he didn’t want hair to end up in landfills.

Sonar pointed out that the carbon nanodots derived from human hair aren’t bright enough for use in TV screens. Nevertheless, they glow bright enough for use in flexible screens, smart packaging, wearable devices, etc.

Next, the researchers are looking into animal hair.

“Perhaps we could produce flexible OLEDs using small strands of wool from sheep or leftover dog hair from pet grooming salons.”

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