Scientists invent see through chip

Washington: Korean scientists have fabricated a functional computer chip that is almost completely clear - the first of its kind. The technology could spur development of clear computer and TV screens, embedded in glass or transparent plastic.

Besides, see-through electronics would make your room or wall more spacious by allowing such devices to be stacked in small clear spaces.

The new technology, called transparent resistive random access memory (TRRAM) chip, is similar to an existing commercial chip known as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory - providing data storage for USB flash drives and other devices.

Like CMOS devices, the new chip provides “non-volatile” memory, meaning it stores digital information without losing data when it is powered off. Unlike CMOS devices, however, the new TRRAM chip is almost completely clear.

Technically, TRRAM device rely upon an existing technology known as resistive random access memory (RRAM), which is already in commercial development for future electronic data storage devices.

What the Korean team did was to build a chip by sandwiching these metal oxide materials between equally transparent electrodes and substrates.