Shining a little light changes metal into semiconductor

??????????????
This image shows how electrons in the gold nanorods get excited when exposed to light, then are absorbed into a thin film of zinc oxide, changing the properties of the composite from a metal into a semiconductor. Credit: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

By blending their expertise, two materials science engineers at Washington University in St. Louis changed the electronic properties of a new class of materials — just by exposing it to light.

With funding from the Washington University International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES), Parag Banerjee, PhD, and Srikanth Singamaneni, PhD, both assistant professors of materials science, brought together their respective areas of research.

Singamaneni’s area of expertise is in making tiny, pebble-like nanoparticles, particularly gold nanorods. Banerjee’s area of expertise is making thin films. They wanted to see how the properties of both materials would change when combined.

The research was published online in August in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

The research team took the gold nanorods and put a very thin blanket of zinc oxide, a common ingredient in sunscreen, on top to create a composite. When they turned on light, they noticed that the composite had changed from one with metallic properties into a semiconductor, a material that partly conducts current. Semiconductors are commonly made of silicon and are used in computers and nearly all electronic devices.

“We call it metal-to-semiconductor switching,” Banerjee said. “This is a very exciting result because it can lead to opportunities in different kinds of sensors and devices.”

Banjeree said when the metallic gold nanorods are exposed to light, the electrons inside the gold get excited and enter the zinc oxide film, which is a semiconductor. When the zinc oxide gets these new electrons, it starts to conduct electricity.

“We found out that the thinner the film, the better the response,” he said. “The thicker the film, the response goes away. How thin? About 10 nanometers, or a 10 billionth of a meter.”

Other researchers working with solar cells or photovoltaic devices have noticed an improvement in performance when these two materials are combined; however, until now, none have broken it down to discover how it happens, Banerjee said.

See Also

“If we start understanding the mechanism for charge conduction, we can start thinking about applications,” he said. “We think there are opportunities to make very sensitive sensors, such as an electronic eye. We are now looking to see if there is a different response when we shine a red, blue or green light on this material.”

Read more . . .

 

 

The Latest Bing News on:
Metal-to-semiconductor switching
  • Best Semiconductor Stocks
    on July 24, 2024 at 12:59 pm

    Invest in the best semiconductor stocks with Interactive Brokers today. Information technology is at the forefront of digital transformation. Computers, smartphones and smart TVs have become ...

  • ON Semiconductor Corp ON
    on July 22, 2024 at 6:00 am

    We sell different types of products and services to both investment professionals and individual investors. These products and services are usually sold through license agreements or subscriptions ...

  • Is It Too Late to Buy Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock?
    on July 16, 2024 at 11:45 pm

    Taiwan Semiconductor is a key partner for many big tech companies. Management is guiding for 15% to 20% annualized revenue growth over the next several years. This also provides a benefit for ...

  • Best semiconductor ETFs of July 2024
    on July 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm

    Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy. A straightforward and highly popular semiconductor ETF pick is SMH, which tracks the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. This index provides ...

  • 7 Best Semiconductor ETFs to Buy in 2024
    on June 25, 2024 at 8:01 am

    That being said, retail investors may not find it prudent to go all-in on Nvidia. The semiconductor industry has numerous competitors who may not be as large or as profitable as Nvidia ...

  • New yttrium-doping strategy enhances 2D transistors
    on June 25, 2024 at 5:38 am

    "We placed a semi-metal layer between a metal electrode and a two-dimensional semiconductor," Chenguang ... well as ohmic contacts and had great switching capabilities. In the future, these ...

  • 11 favored semiconductor stocks expected to outperform Nvidia over the next year
    on June 24, 2024 at 8:50 am

    Nvidia Corp. dominates coverage of the semiconductor industry, and this will continue as long as this company keeps blowing past even its own expectations for sales and profits each quarter.

  • ON Semiconductor Corporation
    on November 29, 2023 at 9:05 pm

    The PSG segment offers analog, discrete, module, and integrated semiconductor products that perform multiple application functions, including power switching, power conversion, signal conditioning ...

The Latest Google Headlines on:
Metal-to-semiconductor switching

[google_news title=”” keyword=”metal-to-semiconductor switching” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]

The Latest Bing News on:
A new class of materials
The Latest Google Headlines on:
A new class of materials

[google_news title=”” keyword=”a new class of materials” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]

What's Your Reaction?
Don't Like it!
0
I Like it!
0
Scroll To Top