Graphene allows for glasses-free 3D holograms

Researchers have used a graphene-based material to create a pop-up 3D floating display which does not require special glasses.
Moving holograms like those used in 3D science fiction movies such as Avatar have to date only been seen properly by viewers wearing special glasses.
Now researchers at Swinburne University of Technology have shown the capacity of a technique using graphene oxide and complex laser physics to create a pop-up floating display visible from a wide angle with the naked eye.
Graphene is a two dimensional carbon material with extraordinary electronic and optical properties that offers a new material platform for next-generation nanophototonic devices.

Through a photonic process without involving heat or a change in temperature, the researchers were able to create nanoscale pixels of refractive index - the measure of the bending of light as it passes through a medium - of reduced graphene oxide.
This is crucial for the subsequent recording of the individual pixels for holograms and hence naked eye 3D viewing.

"If you can change the refractive index you can create lots of optical effects," Director of Swinburne's Centre for Micro-Photonics, Professor Min Gu, said.
"Our technique can be leveraged to achieve compact and versatile optical components for controlling light. We can create the wide angle display necessary for mobile phones and tablets," Gu said.

"Owing to its atomic layer thickness and high mechanical strength, the use of graphene in mobile display units for flat two-dimensional displays is burgeoning," said Dr Xiangping Li, who is one of the leaders of this research.
"Our technology could also underpin future flexible and wearable display devices and transform them for 3D display," Li said.
Gu said this new generation digital holographic 3D display technology also has applications for military devices, entertainment, remote education and medical diagnosis.
The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.