Posted in | News | Optics and Photonics

MIT Researchers Develop High-Temperature Photonic Crystals

A group of researchers at MIT has developed a method of creating a high-temperature version of photonic crystals by using metals like tantalum or tungsten. Proficient to operate at temperatures up to 120000C, the new materials can employ portable electronic device-based applications, spacecraft to probe deep space, and new infrared light emitters functioning as sensors and chemical detectors.

A microscope image of the tungsten photonic crystal structure reveals the precise uniform spacing of cavities formed in the material, which are tuned to specific wavelengths of light.

The paper was co-authored by MIT professors Marin Soljaèiæ and John Joannopoulos, graduate students Walker Chen and Yi Xiang Yeng, in association with former postdoc Peter Bermel and Michael Ghebrebrhan.

A customized nanoengineered material was designed for the infrared range. The entire photonic crystals consist of a lattice of a particular material was merged with a complementary material or open spaces. This facilitates selective transmission of light with certain wavelengths and when used as emitters, they radiate certain wavelengths.

High temperature-efficient Photonic crystals offer various potential applications, including radioisotope-powered devices, components to acquire energy from waste heat at powerplants or industrial facilities, devices for solar-chemical or solar-thermal conversion, and hydrocarbon-powered generators. In order to overcome the challenges caused by high temperatures such as corrosion, diffusion, cracking, evaporation, melting or rapid chemical reactions of the crystals’ nanostructure, the team at MIT team formulated a structure from high-purity tungsten, using a specialized geometry to promote safety during high-temperature operation.

This research will also be supported by NASA that will provide the radioisotope thermal generators (RTGs), which harness the radioactive material’s power.

According to Celanovic, a research engineer at MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, the portable electronic devices can operate on thermophotovoltaic generators. The same photonic crystal, besides generating power, also enables the creation of precisely tuned wavelengths of infrared light.

Supports for the research include MIT Energy Initiative seed grant, TeraGrid resources and the MIT S3TEC Energy Research Frontier Center of the U.S. Department of Energy Army Research Office via the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, and NASA.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Choi, Andy. (2019, February 28). MIT Researchers Develop High-Temperature Photonic Crystals. AZoOptics. Retrieved on December 03, 2024 from https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=15045.

  • MLA

    Choi, Andy. "MIT Researchers Develop High-Temperature Photonic Crystals". AZoOptics. 03 December 2024. <https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=15045>.

  • Chicago

    Choi, Andy. "MIT Researchers Develop High-Temperature Photonic Crystals". AZoOptics. https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=15045. (accessed December 03, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Choi, Andy. 2019. MIT Researchers Develop High-Temperature Photonic Crystals. AZoOptics, viewed 03 December 2024, https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=15045.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.