Flash of light creates high-performance materials without heating the surface beneath
Researchers have developed a method using ultrafast light flashes to rearrange semiconductor structures without damaging the underlying glass substrate. This technique allows for high-temperature processing on heat-sensitive materials, potentially advancing solar energy and electronic device manufacturing.
Why it matters
This breakthrough overcomes a major thermal limitation in semiconductor manufacturing, enabling the use of transparent conducting glass for more efficient solar cells and advanced electronics.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source A flash of light rearranges a crystal, and another flash puts it back while the glass below stays cool. Credit: The Gottesman Research Group A flash of light lasting a fraction of a millisecond could help create better materials for solar energy. Researchers used ultrafast heating at rates of up to 10 million degrees Celsius per second to rearrange the atoms inside a semiconductor, producing a version that generated up to 50 times more electrical current from light than the same material in its ordinary form.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in