Novel erbium compound could rival graphene

According to the team, the material – erbium chloride silicate in the single crystal nanowire form – paves the way for future generation computers, improved sensor and solid state lighting technology and improved conversion efficiency of silicon based solar cells. According to Cun-Zheng Ning, the university's Professor of electrical engineering, who led the research, Erbium releases photons at 1.5µm of wavelength, enabling it to be used in optical fibres to augment telephone and internet signals. The new erbium compound has erbium atoms 1000 times that of other erbium materials, allowing the integration of several devices into a chip scale system. Ning notes that, when incorporated with silicon, the new compound crystal material can integrate communication and computing capabilities to the low cost silicon system, while simultaneously improving internet and computing functions. The innovative material increases solar cell conversion efficiency by transforming two or more photons that carry less energy into a single photon with more energy. According to Ning, when silicon absorbs this single, high energy photon, the conversion efficiency of the solar cell becomes increased. The material's colour conversion capability of converting ultraviolet light into visible light makes it suitable for producing white light for solid state lighting equipment. Current methods involve the doping of host materials, including silicon, silicon oxide and other glasses and crystals, with erbium. In the new crystal material, erbium is integrated as an element of a homogenous compound. As it has more number of erbium atoms, the material delivers improved optical activity to generate powerful lighting. Ning stated that the synthesis of the material in the superior quality single crystal form means it has a better optical quality than other doped materials. The team is now working on the application of the erbium compound to improve conversion efficiency of solar cells to produce tiny optical amplifiers for chip scale photonic devices for high speed internet and computers. Initial findings revealed that the new material has unique properties and high optical quality.