Irish researchers have measured photoconductivity in a single polymer nanowire, a finding that could lead to inexpensive miniaturised solar cells and photo detectors.
Both devices work by converting light into electricity, and building smaller versions of the devices will rely on nanostructured materials with good photoconducting properties. The properties of inorganic photoconducting nanowires, such as ZnO or Si, have been measured, but relatively little is known about the properties of organic nanowires. Organic nanowires could be both chemically tunable and relatively inexpensive to integrate into electronic circuits.
Gareth Redmond's group at the Tyndall National Institute in
The wires' quantum efficiency, or the number of current-carrying electrons produced per photon hitting the wire, is about 0.1 per cent, which is comparable with several inorganic nanowires. As in many polymer-based electronic devices, the limiting factors may be the non-crystalline structure and poor electrical contact with the metal leads.
Five ways to prepare for your first day
If I may add my own personal Tip No. 6 it goes something like this: From time to time a more senior member of staff will start explaining something...