Research
MICROFABRITECH does basic research on solid state physics and chemistry, which is applied to the design, testing and characterization of novel optical and electrical materials and devices.
Significant recent accomplishments include a 60% improvement in brightness and efficiency of yellow light from zinc sulfide doped with
manganese in thin film electroluminescent flat panel displays. Green light was created from thin film electroluminescent zinc sulfide doped with
terbium. Electron-stimulated surface chemical reactions with residual gases were shown to be the degradation mechanism for zinc sulfide phosphors
used in cathodoluminescent field emission display and television phosphors.
Researchers grew gallium nitride layers using a novel, hybrid,
hydride/metalorganic chemical vapor deposition system. New chemistries were demonstrated for dry etching compound semiconductors such as gallium
nitride and silicon carbide, and several novel gallium nitride devices for optoelectronic and high power applications. New surface cleaning and passivation techniques for gallium nitride were developed, and epitaxial
layers of gallium nitride doped with erbium for optoelectronic applications were grown. High quality copper-indium diselenide thin film solar
cells were grown and tested.