PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists are studying diatoms, a type of single-celled algae, to find better ways to make nanoscale composites for use in electronic devices.
Diatoms compose a major component of the algae that feeds many ocean creatures. They are an ancient form of life and were in existence when dinosaurs roamed the Earth's surface.
Diatoms extract silicon from seawater, processing it into intricate micro-structures that form a tiny, rigid shell. If their work could be harnessed it could be a natural and inexpensive way to create organized structures at the nano scale.
Scientists at Oregon State University have succeeded in "feeding" germanium to the diatoms and getting them to incorporate it into their shells. Nanoscale composites of germanium could have application in opto-electronics, photonics, thin film displays, solar cells and a wide range of electronic devices.
"We've succeeded in getting the germanium into diatoms and we're getting good replication, we expect very good uniformity in these materials," said Alex Chang, an OSU assistant professor of chemical engineering. "We still need to have a better understanding of the internal structure and how successfully it is patterning the nanocomposite material we're seeking, but the results so far are very encouraging."
