Smartphone makers are always looking for new ways to differentiate their products and attract customers. One of the latest innovations that could soon hit the market is the self-healing display, a screen that can repair itself when scratched or cracked.
A self-healing display is a screen that has a special coating or material that can react to damage and fill in the gaps. This could potentially save users from having to replace their screens or buy protective cases.
The concept of self-healing materials is not new, as they have been used in other fields such as aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering. However, applying them to smartphone screens poses some challenges, such as maintaining the optical quality, touch sensitivity, and durability of the display.
How does it work?
There are different approaches to creating self-healing displays, but one of the most promising ones is using a nano coating that can create a new material when exposed to air. This material can then bond with the original screen and heal the scratch.
Another possible method is using a shape memory polymer, which is a material that can change its shape when heated. This could allow the screen to recover its original form when cracked.
When will we see it?
According to analyst firm CCS Insight, we could see smartphones with self-healing displays within the next five years. The firm predicts that this technology will be one of the top trends in the smartphone industry by 2028.
Some companies have already experimented with self-healing technology in smartphones. For example, LG released a phone called the G Flex in 2013, which had a curved screen and a self-healing coating on the back cover. However, the technology was not very effective and did not work on the display itself.
Apple and Motorola have also filed patents for self-healing screens, but they have not yet launched any products with this feature.
Why is it important?
Self-healing displays could offer several benefits for smartphone users and makers. For users, it could reduce the cost and hassle of repairing or replacing their screens, which are often the most vulnerable parts of their devices. It could also improve the aesthetic and functional quality of their phones, as they would not have to deal with scratches or cracks.
For smartphone makers, it could give them an edge over their competitors and increase their customer loyalty. It could also open up new possibilities for designing more flexible and durable phones, such as foldable or rollable devices.
What are the challenges?
Despite the potential advantages of self-healing displays, there are also some challenges and limitations that need to be overcome. One of them is setting the right expectations for consumers, as they may not understand how the technology works or what level of damage it can fix.
Another challenge is ensuring that the self-healing process does not affect the performance or appearance of the screen. For example, the coating or material may not match the color or brightness of the original screen, or it may leave some marks or residues after healing.
A third challenge is scaling up the production and testing of self-healing displays, as they may require more complex and expensive manufacturing processes and quality control measures than conventional screens.
