A new breed of ultra-thin computer screens using pgms could soon be available thanks to research in the US.

Professor Stefan Bernhard of Princeton University believes his work with OLEDs (organic light-emitting displays) could have a significant impact on computer screens and other electronic displays.

OLED devices consist of a sheet of organic material, the chromophore, which is composed of iridium or ruthenium, between two electrodes. One of the electrodes is gold and the other is indium tin oxide (ITO).

Professor Bernhard claims OLEDs not only offer design benefits but would also save energy.

"Currently, computer screens need a backlight like a mercury lamp that uses a lot of energy," he explained. "The backlight is why when you look at the screen at an angle, the colour changes.

"With our displays, there is no backlight. This solves the problem of colour distortion, energy loss and you could make the screen as thin as one millimetre."

The professor is now looking for large companies to back the technology with investment.