Semiconductor grown inside optical fiber
Published: March 17, 2008 at 3:11 PM
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 17 (UPI) -- U.S. and British scientists have developed a process for growing a single-crystal semiconductor inside the tunnel of a hollow optical fiber.
The researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Southampton in Britain said the development of the single-crystal device builds on research reported in 2006, in which the team first combined optical fibers with polycrystalline and amorphous semiconductor materials to create an optical fiber that also has electronic characteristics.
The team's latest finding -- that a single-crystal semiconductor also can be integrated into an optical fiber -- is expected to lead to even further improvements in the characteristics of optical fibers that are used in many areas of science and technology.
"For most applications, single-crystal semiconductor materials have better performance than polycrystalline and amorphous materials," said John Badding, Penn State associate professor of chemistry. "We have now shown that our technique of encasing a single-crystal semiconductor within an optical fiber results in greater functionality of the optical fiber, as well."
The research appears in the journal Advanced Materials.
The researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Southampton in Britain said the development of the single-crystal device builds on research reported in 2006, in which the team first combined optical fibers with polycrystalline and amorphous semiconductor materials to create an optical fiber that also has electronic characteristics.
The team's latest finding -- that a single-crystal semiconductor also can be integrated into an optical fiber -- is expected to lead to even further improvements in the characteristics of optical fibers that are used in many areas of science and technology.
"For most applications, single-crystal semiconductor materials have better performance than polycrystalline and amorphous materials," said John Badding, Penn State associate professor of chemistry. "We have now shown that our technique of encasing a single-crystal semiconductor within an optical fiber results in greater functionality of the optical fiber, as well."
The research appears in the journal Advanced Materials.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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