Flexible Glass: Myth and Photonic Technology DOI Open Access
Giancarlo C. Righini, Maurizio Ferrari, Anna Łukowiak

et al.

Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(9), P. 2010 - 2010

Published: April 29, 2025

The recent fast advances in consumer electronics, especially cell phones and displays, have led to the development of ultra-thin, hence flexible, glasses. Once available, such flexible glasses proven be great interest usefulness other fields, too. Flexible photonics, for instance, has quickly taken advantage this new material. At first sight, “flexible glass” appears an oxymoron. Glass is, by definition, fragile highly breakable; its structure puzzled scientists decades, but it is evident that most conditions a rigid material, so how can bend? This possibility, however, aroused artists craftsmen since ancient times; thus, Roman times myth glass was born. Furthermore, appeared again Middle Age, connected religious miracle. Today, no more reality due fact current technology permits us produce micron-thick sheets, any ultra-thin material bent. Flexibility coming from present capability manufacture sheets at tens microns thickness coupled with strengthening methods; also worth highlighting that, on micrometric nanometric scales, silicate presents plastic behavior. significant application area displays smartphones tablets, wearables, where flexibility durability are crucial. Automotive medical sectors gaining importance. A very relevant field, both market technological progress, solar photovoltaics; mechanical lightweight allowed cells evolve toward devices possess advantages conformability, bendability, wearability, moldability. mature roll-to-roll manufacturing allows high-performance low cost. Here, brief overview history some examples photovoltaics presented.

Language: Английский

Flexible Glass: Myth and Photonic Technology DOI Open Access
Giancarlo C. Righini, Maurizio Ferrari, Anna Łukowiak

et al.

Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(9), P. 2010 - 2010

Published: April 29, 2025

The recent fast advances in consumer electronics, especially cell phones and displays, have led to the development of ultra-thin, hence flexible, glasses. Once available, such flexible glasses proven be great interest usefulness other fields, too. Flexible photonics, for instance, has quickly taken advantage this new material. At first sight, “flexible glass” appears an oxymoron. Glass is, by definition, fragile highly breakable; its structure puzzled scientists decades, but it is evident that most conditions a rigid material, so how can bend? This possibility, however, aroused artists craftsmen since ancient times; thus, Roman times myth glass was born. Furthermore, appeared again Middle Age, connected religious miracle. Today, no more reality due fact current technology permits us produce micron-thick sheets, any ultra-thin material bent. Flexibility coming from present capability manufacture sheets at tens microns thickness coupled with strengthening methods; also worth highlighting that, on micrometric nanometric scales, silicate presents plastic behavior. significant application area displays smartphones tablets, wearables, where flexibility durability are crucial. Automotive medical sectors gaining importance. A very relevant field, both market technological progress, solar photovoltaics; mechanical lightweight allowed cells evolve toward devices possess advantages conformability, bendability, wearability, moldability. mature roll-to-roll manufacturing allows high-performance low cost. Here, brief overview history some examples photovoltaics presented.

Language: Английский

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