Media Contacts:

Dr. Salah M. Bedair, 919/515-5204 or bedair@eos.ncsu.edu
Dr. Nadia A. El-Masry, 919/515-2970 or n_elmasry@ncsu.edu
Linda Rudd, Engineering Publications, 919/515-3848 or linda_rudd@ncsu.edu

Dec. 15, 2000

NC State Researchers Develop Room-Temperature Magnetic Semiconductor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Semiconductors are essential to the function of many electronic devices, but their functions may be limited by the properties of the materials of which they're made. Magnetic semiconductors could have superior properties, but so far researchers have only been able to create magnetic semiconductors that function at extremely low temperatures.

Now a team of materials scientists at North Carolina State University has for the first time successfully developed a room-temperature magnetic semiconductor. Dr. Nadia A. El-Masry, professor of materials science and engineering; Dr. Salah M. Bedair, professor of electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Hans H. Stadelmaier, professor emeritus of materials science and engineering; and doctoral student Meredith L. Reed wanted to combine the advantages and functionality of magnetic behavior with semiconductor behavior in one materials system that would work at room temperature.

The NC State team did this by introducing manganese into a gallium nitride system. El-Masry says the temperature range within which the new material functions is 38 to 75 degrees Celsius. This room-temperature-and-above range opens a new world of possibilities for additional research on and practical applications for the novel material.

Bedair explains that magnetic behavior results in either clockwise or counterclockwise spin of the electrons. These magnetized semiconductors can offer a new binary system that would result in improved speed and functionality in computer applications. The injection and detection of spin-polarized current in semiconducting materials could combine magnetic storage of information with electronic readout in a single semiconductor device. Other applications for the future include lasers and light emitting diodes (LEDs) created by manipulating the emission wavelength through the application of a magnetic field.

--rudd--

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