Elvira Fortunato
Portuguese Scientist for Materials Science.
Award Motivation
Development of transparent electronics and paper electronics.
Award details
Elvira Fortunato is a Portuguese scientist from the University of Lisbon. With her team partner Rodrigo Martins, they created the first transistor of paper in the world. Elvira co-led the team that invented a transistor which has the ability to change the colour of any surface: the electrochromic transistor. The device changes the colour to reflect any solid surface where it is applied – paper, glass, ceramic, metal or plastic. In the near future, we will be able to change the colour of our house or our car whenever we choose. The transistors can be applied to surfaces of paper, glass, ceramic (tiles), metal or polymer (plastic, rubber, polyurethane, polystyrene, etc.). This holds great potential for application in all types of displays- computer, TV, mobile phone, PDA – as well as in the static advertising media.