Multimodal transistors enable brighter display screens

As well as reducing cost, the new approach promises to reduce harmful waste, and deliver brighter, more energy-efficient screens for smartphones, smartwatches, and certain medical devices.

Many display screens use complex circuits made up of thin-film transistors (TFTs), which control when each pixel turns on or off and how bright it should be. Building these circuits requires a lot of time, energy, water and harsh chemicals, making the manufacturing process expensive and resource heavy.

At this year’s Display Week 2025 Technical Symposium in San Jose, California (11-16 May), Dr Radu Sporea and Dr Eva Bestelink will unveil their latest research, based on a multimodal transistor (MMT). Originally designed as a hardware AI computing element, the MMT has the ability to simplify display circuits while improving performance and sustainability.

In a statement, Dr Sporea, an associate professor in semiconductor devices at Surrey University, said: “Our invention challenges decades of industry practice by embracing properties usually seen as flaws. In most displays, engineers try to eliminate the energy barriers that form where metals meet semiconductors because they restrict current flow. But instead of working around them, we’ve made those barriers central to how our transistors operate.

“Using these effects deliberately, we’ve shown that the electronic circuits at the heart of display screens can be made with fewer components and processing steps – reducing waste, cutting costs and improving performance. And because it works with existing materials and tools, it’s a smarter, more sustainable upgrade for the screens we use every day. For the user, the reduced power requirements in operation will also mean significantly improved battery life.”

The MMT’s operation is said to enable extremely compact, high-performance circuits that are suited to devices where size, energy use and image quality are critical, such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, automotive displays, and future wearable devices.

The technology is showing promise in simulations, with real-world applications in AMOLED and microLED displays. It can also be integrated into current production lines with minimal disruption.

Dr Bestelink, senior research fellow at Surrey University’s Advanced Technology Institute, said: “The MMT lets us design circuits that perform better while also being cleaner and cheaper to make. That’s a win for manufacturers, a win for users and a win for the environment. Beyond displays, it could also have major applications in areas like microfluidics, imaging arrays and hardware AI. We’re still actively researching the AI potential, but the implication for revolutionising manufacturing is clear – especially if we’re to achieve Net Zero.”