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Sensors that can be used in extreme temperatures and other harsh environments, more efficient electric vehicles, and improved remote switching for electric power grids are among the numerous applications for technology being developed by engineers Rudy Schlaf, Steve Saddow,and John Wolan. Ultimately, the increased efficiency that the technology will make possible could cut, by as much as 15 percent, the worldwide amount of resources used to generate electricity, significantly reducing pollution as well.

The focus of the USF work and the key to making all of this possible is a material called silicon carbide (SiC). Today, most computer chips are made of silicon, but among its serious limitations is the inability to withstand high temperatures and other extreme conditions. SiC, on the other hand, not only is stable under adverse conditions but also performs well at high frequencies and high voltages—both of which also improve efficiency. Its stability at high temperatures makes it ideal for use in sensors that need to function in extreme heat, such as inside a jet engine. Locating a sensor inside an engine instead of at a distance would save weight, increase fuel efficiency, and result in more reliable operation.

Combining Schlaf’s background as a surface physicist, Saddow’s expertise in SiC chemical vapor deposition and devices, and Wolan’s experience in electronic materials, the USF researchers have already had great success with the difficult and complex task of making high-quality SiC, growing the crystals in epitaxial, or stacked, layers at extremely high temperatures. They also are developing a specialized analytical device for testing the material and exploring its properties.

To date, the project has received some $1.5 million in funding. In addition to a Florida High Tech Corridor Council grant, support has come from the Office of Naval Research, Uniroyal Optelectronics, and Sterling Semiconductor, which foster productive associations between USF and industry.

- originally published in the USF Research Annual Report, 2002

Related Story -- Nanotechnology

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