May 10, 2005 – Motorola unveiled a nanotechnology-based prototype for flat panel displays on Monday, about 18 months after it announced it intended to make a demo device. The 5-inch-color video display uses the emissive capabilities of carbon nanotubes to produce a thin screen with bright illumination.

Motorola is developing the technology for High Definition Televisions with large screens that are less than an inch in thickness. Barry Young, a vice president and chief financial officer of the research and consulting firm DisplaySearch, said in a prepared statement that the cost of manufacturing a 40-inch display panel based on Motorola’s technology could fall below $400.

Motorola developed and patented a technique for growing carbon nanotubes on glass at low temperatures. In 2003, its research lab reported success at growing uniform tubes in an orderly fashion for field emission displays. By controlling the nanotubes’ length and placement, Motorola could make displays that fit existing voltage and current requirements.

It reported then that it was in the process of making a working demo. On Monday the company indicated it was prepared to work with display manufacturers to develop commercial products.