Semiconductor-free microelectronics

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have fabricated the first semiconductor-free, optically-controlled microelectronic device. Using metamaterials, engineers were able to build a microscale device that shows a 1,000 percent increase in conductivity when activated by low voltage and a low power laser.
The discovery paves the way for microelectronic devices that are faster and capable of handling more power, and could also lead to more efficient solar panels.
Press release: jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/new...
Video created by Kindea Labs

[@internettrend]

once I've thought about that. I'm impressed to know somebody else got the same idea and actually made it happen!

[@J4ckCr0w]

This is a breakthrough if applied.

[@rageagainstthebath]

That's a good start, but let me remind you a crappy $0.05 MOSFET has a a conductivity ratio of billions percent between on and off states... Still an interesting proof of concept and hopefully it will end up as an actual useful technology, at least within this century.

[@gladtomeetyou5088]

rageagainstthebath billions percent between on and off states. What does that mean?

[@luckyboylb]

Great video but the music's too loud.

[@CapnCoCo1]

music is way too loud and distracting. Great Video otherwise, excited to see where this technology goes.

[@Erik-rp1hi]

Cool!

[@adamrath7095]

YES PLEASE!!!

[@absolute___zero]

so, is this thing patented? because we are sick of patents, we want open source technology that we can replicate without any restrictions