Developed by Japanese and Swiss scientists Glass can generate electricity when exposed to light, potentially paving the way for sustainable energy production. Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland used femtosecond lasers to etch circuits on a glass surface, unexpectedly creating semiconductor crystals.
The breakthrough, reported in January by the US scientific journal Applied Physics Reviews, enables glass to be transformed into an active material that can carry electrical current, similar to a semiconductor.
Yves Bellouard, associate professor at Swiss School and director of Galatea LaboratoryThe technology was praised as “surprising and innovative” for its ability to modify materials without adding additional additives. The collaborative project involves the use of tellurite glass supplied by the Japanese institute, which is commonly used in the production of optical fibers.
An article published by Kyodo News shows a sample of tellurite glass mounted on an energy harvesting device with laser circuits etched into it.
Goezden Torun, student in Bellouard’s laboratory, accidentally created semiconductor crystals while conducting femtosecond laser experiments on tellurite glass. Laser-engraved circuits on the glass surface then prompt the generation of electrical currents in response to ultraviolet and visible light.
Tetsuo Kishi, associate professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, underscoring the technology’s transformative potential, transforming glass from a passive material that only allows light to pass through to an active material with semiconductor-like properties. Kishi suggested modifying the glass composition to improve practicality, making it lighter and thinner.
“Electricity” by Filter Forge is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Although challenges remain, the researchers envision future applications in which windows partially covered with tellurite glass, altered by femtosecond lasers, could serve as a source of clean energy, potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Although actual implementation may require further refinement, this development represents a promising step towards sustainable energy solutions.
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