Media.Player

Transition Metal-Doped Oxide Semiconductor Exhibiting

Technology Benefits

The semiconductor exhibits ferromagnetism at room temperature allowing for a dual purpose component, ability to conduct electricity and hold a magnetic state, resulting in improved circuitry and logic devices. The magnetic field of the device changes when a gas flows across it giving an accurate method of detecting unknown gases in factories, mines, etc. The semiconductor acts like a permanent magnet at room temperature and is oxidized by gases that change its magnetic properties; after calibration the device could be used to detect unknown gases.

Detailed Technology Description

Boise State University has invented a room temperature, gas detection sensor with magnetic properties.This device is a semiconductor that has a powdered transition metal evenly infused with it (or a film of the transition metal added to it). The semiconductor then acts like a permanent magnet at room temperature. When combined with a system to control the flow of gas across the material and measure the change in magnetism of the material, unknown gases could be detected with the device. The gases would have to have the ability to oxidize or reduce the material (add or take away electrons) and after calibration with known gases the change in magnetism is used to identify unknown gases. Gas detection is of particular interest due to potential toxicity, volatility, and the ease with which gases can enter the blood stream.

Industry

Measurement/Testing

Sub Category

Measurement Tool

*Abstract

Oxide semiconductors have been used to detect gases. However, these have all been non-magnetic oxide semiconductors and their electrical and semiconducting properties vary with oxygen stoichiometry. Development of room-temperature ferromagnetism in conventional semiconductors attracts interest due to their potential use in spintronics applications. However, most traditional transition metal-doped magnetic semiconductor systems exhibit ferromagnetism only at temperatures that are well below room-temperature.

*Principal Investigator

Name: Alex Punnoose, Professor

Department: Physics

Country/Region

USA