• Make all your photonics from perovskite?

    Have we finally found the universal substance for photonics? Well, not really. But perovskite, the material (actually, a class of materials) that's recently been getting technical press for its high efficiency as a solar-cell material, has other potential uses as well.
    Aug. 14, 2014
    John Wallace 720 5d26542a3e7b5

    Have we finally found the universal substance for photonics? Well, not really. But perovskite, a material (actually, a class of materials with a common structure) that's recently been getting technical press for its high efficiency as a solar-cell material, has other potential uses as well.

    Here's the solar-cell (and thus photodetector) angle:
    http://news.nd.edu/news/49792-notre-dame-paper-offers-insights-into-a-new-class-of-semiconducting-materials/

    Next, LEDs:
    LEDs made from perovskite could enable low-cost LED displays

    Lasers:
    High-efficiency perovskite photovoltaic material also lases

    Nonlinear optical devices:
    From Optical Materials Express: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OME.4.001186

    Metamaterial lenses:
    Also from Optical Materials Express: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OME.4.001186

    It seems you can use perovskites for everything in your optical system except the mechanical devices. But wait:

    Piezoelectric actuators:
    Fujifilm creates new PZT actuator film with higher piezoelectric constant

    So it is my pleasure to announce (OK, in jest) the launch of a new sister brand, Perovskite Focus World. And if you want to receive the print version, be prepared: in the interests of saving paper, it will be made from . . .

    About the Author

    John Wallace

    Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

    John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.

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