North Carolina State University scientists have created functional oxide thin films, which can be efficiently utilized in electronics that opens a doorway to a series of new smart sensors and high-power devices. For the first time, scientists have developed negatively charged (n-type) and positively charged (p-type) conductors in a single oxide material.
Materials having p-n junction are required to form functional electronic devices. The amount of temperature and power are limited in solid state silicon electronics. Hence, silicon is replaced by oxide materials. It is difficult to combine the different n-type and p-type oxide materials.
According to Dr. Jay Narayan, the John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State, this problem was eliminated through the usage of similar material for n- and p-type conductors.
Laser light is specifically used by Narayan's scientist team to form positive-charge nickel oxide (NiO) thin films, then the top layer of those thin films were converted to n-type.
It was possible to control the features and depth of the p-n junction, as these scientists were able control the n-layer’s thickness. Narayan has stated that this temporal and spatial selectivity has offered extraordinary control to write on the p-n junctions through laser beams and develop features of high-density devices for oxide electronics.
New technologies for various fields can be developed based on this research, as the oxide electronics development was enabled. Oxides are better than silicon-based electronics in handling higher voltages. Therefore, the material can be utilized to develop high-voltage switches for use in the power grid. New sensors can be created using this oxide electronics for gas monitoring and can be used in different applications that include analysis of air toxicity in security circumstances.
Narayan stated that these oxide materials are transparent, therefore transparent electronics can be developed.
The National Science Foundation funded this thin film research.