An innovative technology that uses lasers to convert glass into a semiconductor that harvests light has hit the science world. The study and findings were published in a comprehensive article in Physical Review Applied, a peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers applied physics. This marks a fresh approach in the field of material science advancement and exemplifies the creative use of existing technologies like femtosecond lasers.
Study on exposing tellurite glass to femtosecond laser light
Scientist Gรถzden Torun at the Galatea Lab at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, in collaboration with Tokyo Tech, based her thesis on the effects ofย exposing tellurite glass to femtosecond laser light. Her amazing discovery may make it possible to fit windows with light-harvesting technology and turn them into sensing devices.
The discovery that glass can be turned into a light-harvesting semiconductor was the result of intense collaboration, which has opened new options in the world of energy-efficient materials and techniques. Head scientist Torun detailed the effects of exposing tellurite glass to femtosecond laser light.
Femtosecond lasers and tellurite glass
Femtosecond lasers, which employ super-short light pulses, were used to create nanoscale patterns (smaller than one-tenth of a micrometer in at least one dimension) of tellurium and tellurium oxide crystals in the glass. The crystals are made up of semiconducting materials that form exactly at the point where the glass interacts with the light from the laser. Tellurite glass is the ideal material for numerous technological applications because of its superior physical properties, such as its high dielectric constant andย low melting point (800ย ยฐC).
The scientists discovered that tellurium and tellurium oxide crystals formed at exactly the point where the glass had been exposed to the femtosecond laser. The original interest was in how the glass atoms would reorganize when exposed to high-energy light. This was a pivotal moment for the team because a semiconducting material exposed to daylight may result in electricity generation.
Yves Bellouard, who runs EPFL’s Galatea Laboratory, explained:
“Tellurium being semiconducting, based on this finding we wondered if it would be possible to write durable patterns on the tellurite glass surface that could reliably induce electricity when exposed to light, and the answer is yes. An interesting twist to the technique is that no additional materials are needed in the process. All you need is tellurite glass and a femtosecond laser to make an active photoconductive material.”
Unpacking the science behind tellurite glass electricity generation
The tellurite glass discovery is significant because it’s both efficient and simple. Previous similar methods required the addition of other materials to create photoconductive surfaces, but this process only requires two elements: a femtosecond laser and tellurite glass. The process involves transforming the glass into an active photoconductive material that generates an electrical current when exposed to light.
The EPFL team applied their knowledge of femtosecond lasers to the glass produced by their colleagues at Tokyo Tech to modify its structure and analyze its photoconductive properties. The experiments showed promise. After etching a simple line pattern onto a one-centimeter-diameter piece of tellurite glass, head scientist Toren observed that it generated a current under UV light and a visible spectrum, maintaining this capability for several months.
Yves Bellouard continued:
“It’s fantastic, we’re locally turning glass into a semiconductor using light. We’re essentially transforming materials into something else, perhaps approaching the dream of the alchemist.”
Future applications ofย tellurite glass electricity generation
The development has massive potential for applications in sensing technology and energy generation. This ability to turn windows or other glass surfaces into single-material light harvesters and sensors using a simple process could revolutionize the way light and energy are used in daily life.