Pinoy scientists discover cheap way to produce transparent aluminum

Scientists from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology have found a cost-effective way to make aluminum transparent through a process called “droplet-scale anodization.”

The researchers applied microdroplets of acidic solution onto ordinary aluminum and applied two volts of electricity — barely more than what’s found in a single AA household flashlight battery — to transform the metal into a glass-like transparent aluminum oxide (TAlOx).

“This process, called ‘droplet-scale anodization,' is not only simpler than existing manufacturing methods but also environmentally friendly, cutting down on chemical waste and energy use,” the ADMU said in a statement.

“The technique relies on a special effect called ‘electrowetting,’ where an electric field changes the properties of a liquid droplet, allowing precise control over the anodization process,” it added.

TalOx is commonly used as protective coatings on electronics, optical sensors, and solar panels due to its toughness and resistance to scratches. 

The scientists explained that current methods of producing TAlOx are expensive as it requires high-powered lasers, vacuum chambers, or large vats of acids. 

Using the newly discovered process of droplet-scale anodization will make TAlOx cheaper.

“This new approach might make TAlOx cheaper and more accessible for applications in everything from touchscreens and lenses to ultra-durable coatings for vehicles and buildings,” the statement added.

“It could also lead to advances in miniaturized electronics, as scientists now have a way to convert metal surfaces into insulating, transparent layers on a microscopic scale.”

The breakthrough was published in the journal "Langmuir" by Marco Laurence M. Budlayan and Raphael A. Guerrero from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Engineering’s Department of Physics; and Juan Paolo S. Bermundo, James C. Solano, Mark D. Ilasin, and Yukiharu Uraoka from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology Division of Materials Science’s Information Device Science Laboratory in Japan. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News