Silicon with microscopic pores emits visible light when struck by ultraviolet
rays or an electric current, making it a potential material for opto-electronic
devices. But the silicon is easily oxidised, making it useless for the job.
Purdue University researcher Jillian Buriak, however, has found that dunking the
silicon in a Lewis acid, such as aluminium chloride, creates a greasy protective
coating that prevents it from oxidising and doesn’t interfere with its ability
to transmit light.
More from Â鶹´«Ã½
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending Â鶹´«Ã½ articles
1
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
2
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
3
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
4
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
5
Walking shark found in Papua New Guinea is new to science
6
We may have finally solved cosmology's chicken-or-the-egg problem
7
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
8
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
9
Arctic Ocean reaches tipping point that could be dire for marine life
10
Global map reveals the vast scale of underground fungal networks
