Once again, Missouri S&T researchers are leading the way in nanomaterials.
Today, the journal Chemistry of Materials published online an article describing how Dr. Jay A. Switzer, the Professor of Discovery in S&T's chemistry department, and his team grew zinc nanoscale zinc oxide crystals on a single-crystal silicon (full article | press release).
The research on these little crystals -- Switzer calls them "nanospears" -- could yield big results for the future of solar energy. That's because both zinc oxide and silicon are semiconductors, and by perfectly aligning the two materials, engineers could create a new breed of solar cell that absorbs more of the solar spectrum, thereby increasing the efficiency of solar cells.
The other cool thing about Switzer's work in this area is that he's come up with an inexpensive way to grow zinc oxide on silicon. It's been done before -- but not on the cheap. Previously, researchers have had to use expensive ultra-high-vacuum methods. Switzer just uses a beaker and some alkaline solution -- and gets a better result.
Today, the journal Chemistry of Materials published online an article describing how Dr. Jay A. Switzer, the Professor of Discovery in S&T's chemistry department, and his team grew zinc nanoscale zinc oxide crystals on a single-crystal silicon (full article | press release).
The research on these little crystals -- Switzer calls them "nanospears" -- could yield big results for the future of solar energy. That's because both zinc oxide and silicon are semiconductors, and by perfectly aligning the two materials, engineers could create a new breed of solar cell that absorbs more of the solar spectrum, thereby increasing the efficiency of solar cells.
The other cool thing about Switzer's work in this area is that he's come up with an inexpensive way to grow zinc oxide on silicon. It's been done before -- but not on the cheap. Previously, researchers have had to use expensive ultra-high-vacuum methods. Switzer just uses a beaker and some alkaline solution -- and gets a better result.
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