South Korea's Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) Nano-Lithography Research Center, in collaboration with research-oriented company Meta2People, has successfully developed the world's first nano transparent screen exceeding 100 inches. This innovative screen can adjust its transparency based on surrounding light and image information, and boasts lower production costs compared to existing transparent OLED screens, making it a promising candidate for widespread application.
According to South Korean media Financial News and KIMM reports, Dr. Jun-ho Jung's team at KIMM's Nano-Lithography Research Center highlighted that while existing 100-inch transparent OLED screens are prohibitively expensive, costing over KRW 100 million (US$ 72,159.19) Korean won, this new transparent screen can be mass-produced through a simple manufacturing process, potentially reducing the price to one-tenth of current costs.
Advanced features and potential applications
The nano transparent screen offers several notable features. It can be viewed from multiple angles in high definition and is constructed from hair-thin films with evenly dispersed Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, approximately 100 nanometers in diameter.
The screen is compatible with smart dimming film (PDLC), allowing for user-adjustable transparency. It also maintains stable optical properties in high and low-temperature environments, making it suitable for various indoor and outdoor installations due to its lightweight and flexible design.
Dr. Jung emphasized that this transparent screen could be applied in various scenarios, including department stores, supermarket display stands, smart windows, and promotional transparent displays.
The nano transparent screen's mass production capability through Roll-to-Roll continuous manufacturing processes contributes to its cost-effectiveness, potentially accelerating the adoption of large-size transparent screens previously limited by high prices.
The screen was installed at the Youth Shopping Center in Chungju City, South Korea, in June 2024. It was showcased at the Nano Korea 2024 exhibition held at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in July 2024.