May 04 2009 / by Garry Golden Category: Energy Year: General
Rating: 2 Electronics to Photonics The past fifty years of
technological innovation have been shaped largely by our ability
to manipulate the flow of electrons inside 'microscale' sized
transistor chips based on the science of micro-electronics. In
the next fifty years we will open up new opportunities across a
range of industries based on 'nanoscale' design of optical
devices that use light instead of electrons! These nano-optical
devices are likely to be applied to a range of energy related
applications from low power consumption-high performance chips.
new lighting and display systems, and solar cells. Nano-optical
devices are also useful in the study of molecules involved in
materials used in batteries and fuel cells as well as the study
of biochemical systems around algae-based bioenergy systems. A
Breakthrough in Bending with Photons In April, Yale University
researchers announced that they have built a silicon-based
nanocantilever sensor that