Researchers at The University of Manchester have produced tiny liquid crystal devices with electrodes made from graphene.

Dr Kostya Novoselov, from the Manchester research team, explained: “Graphene is only one atom thick, optically transparent, chemically inert, and an excellent conductor.

“These properties seem to make this material an excellent candidate for applications in various electro-optical devices that require conducting but transparent thin films. We believe graphene should improve the durability and simplify the technology of potential electronic devices that interact with light.”

Professor Andre Geim FRS, who along with Dr Novoselov founded graphene back in 2004, explained: “Transparent conducting films are an essential part of many gadgets including common liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for computers, TVs and mobile phones.

“The underlying technology uses thin metal-oxide films based on indium. But indium is becoming an increasingly expensive commodity and, moreover, its supply is expected to be exhausted within just 10 years.

“Forget about oil – our civilisation will first run out of indium. Scientists have an urgent task on their hands to find new types of conductive transparent films.”

The Manchester research team has now demonstrated highly transparent and highly conductive ultra-thin films that can be produced cheaply by ‘dissolving’ chunks of graphite – an abundant natural resource – into graphene and then spraying the suspension onto a glass surface. The resulting graphene-based films can be used in LCDs and, to prove the concept, the research team has demonstrated the first liquid crystal devices with graphene electrodes.