Transparent semiconductor material could make electronics faster

The entirely synthetic material is both transparent and highly conductive, making it ideal for high-power electronics.

Christopher McFadden

The new material is a transparent conducting oxide with a specialized thin-layered structure that enhances transparency while maintaining conductivity. (Representational image)

luza studios

A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota has developed a next-generation transparent and efficient semiconductor material. This breakthrough could have enormous ramifications for improving the efficiency of high-power electronics, especially those that need transparency, like lasers.

The material is entirely manmade, allowing electrons to travel faster while remaining transparent to visible and ultraviolet light.

This new material is already breaking records and is seen as a huge leap forward in semiconductor design.

Semiconductors are a growing, potentially trillion-dollar industry that will only become more important as digital technology develops worldwide. Semiconductors are essential components in nearly all electronic devices, from smartphones to medical equipment.

A crucial area of advancement in these technologies involves enhancing what scientists call “ultra-wide band gap” materials. These materials can conduct electricity efficiently, even in extreme conditions.

Ultra-wideband gap semiconductors support high performance at elevated temperatures, making them vital for creating more durable and robust electronic devices.

In their paper published in Science Advances, the researchers focused on developing a new class of materials with an increased “band gap,” which improves both transparency and conductivity.

This significant advancement supports the creation of faster and more efficient devices, potentially leading to breakthroughs in computers, smartphones, and even quantum computing.

The new material is a transparent conducting oxide with a specialized thin-layered structure that enhances transparency while maintaining conductivity. This is important because most materials that conduct electricity well are opaque, while those that are transparent typically do not conduct electricity efficiently.

Achieving both properties in a single material is rare and can lead to innovative applications in devices requiring both optical clarity and electronic performance. As technology and artificial intelligence (AI) applications demand increasingly capable materials, this groundbreaking development presents a promising solution.

“This breakthrough is a game-changer for transparent conducting materials, enabling us to overcome limitations that have held back deep ultra-violet device performance for years,” said Bharat Jalan, Shell Chair and Professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

He went on to explain that the research showcases an unprecedented blend of transparency and conductivity in the deep-ultraviolet spectrum. It also paves the way for innovations in high-power optoelectronic devices designed to function in the most challenging environments.

Fengdeng Liu and Zhifei Yang, the study’s first co-authors and Ph.D. students in chemical engineering and materials science working in Jalan’s lab, stated that they demonstrated the material’s properties to be nearly unbelievable for electronic applications. To this end, they conducted numerous experiments and successfully eliminated defects in the material to enhance its performance.

“Through detailed electron microscopy, we saw this material was clean with no obvious defects, revealing just how powerful oxide-based perovskites can be as semiconductors if defects are controlled,” said Andre Mkhoyan, a senior author on the paper.

This research represents a significant advancement in developing more efficient materials for current electronic applications and provides new opportunities for future technologies requiring both transparency and high electrical conductivity.

You can view the study for yourself in the journal Science Advances.

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Christopher McFadden Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.

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