Functional materials: electronics, information and sensors

Functional materials are those that have properties enabling them to preform a specific functional purpose, e.g. electrical, magnetic or optical. The rapid development of the technology of transistors and intergrated circuits will continue into the future with design incorporating new materials, notably gallium arsenide. Silica glass is finding increasing application in photonics, light emitting diodes and optical fibres for telephone cables. Optical–fibre technology depends on reliable and durable lasers which now use compound semiconductors such as indium–gallium–arsenide phosphide. It is anticipated that new materials application (indium–gallium–arsenide phosphide) will contribute towards progress in photovoltaics. Interest in superconducting material has heightened during 1980s with the promise that high–temperature superconductivity offers for more–efficient power generation and transmission. In future advantage will come from developing economic and reliable ways of producing functional materials to meet increasing demand.