University of Akron researchers have developed new materials
that function on a nanoscale, which could lead to the creation of lighter
laptops, slimmer televisions and crisper smartphone visual displays.
Known as "giant surfactants" – or surface films
and liquid solutions – the researchers, led by Stephen Z.D. Cheng, dean of UA's
College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, used a technique known as
nanopatterning to combine functioning molecular nanoparticles with polymers to
build these novel materials.