Digital communications advance with simple CdS thin films

Demands on digital communications are increasing at an exponential rate. The need for innovative advances in this area means research on optical and electrical properties of CdS thin films are of interest. It is already known that CdS thin films show promise in conversion of energy applications such as for photovoltaic devices and sensors but they may also be suited for other applications. These applications include the use of CdS films for building analog multipliers or amplitude modulators.

The principal purpose of every amplitude, frequency or phase modulator for analog or digital communication systems is to incorporate information to be transmitted (modulating signal) into a carrier signal.

Researchers J. A. Davila-Pintle, O. Portillo-Moreno and E. Molina Flores from Benem¨¦rita Universidad Aut¨®noma de Puebla used a chemical bath deposition process to grow polycrystalline thin films of CdS on glass substrates. During the growth process, relative volumes of nitrate of erbium penta-hydrate (Er(NO₃)₃5H₂O) were added in aqueous solution of CdS in order to obtain different levels of doping. The samples obtained by this method were electrically and optically characterized determining the dark conductivity, carrier density, and the photoconductivity in the 590 to 451 nm range respectively.

After optimising the composition for electrical and optical properties, the researchers built an amplitude modulator for digital communications. The system worked successfully demonstrating that it could be used for optoelectronic purposes. Although the data transfer rate was relatively slow (less than 1 kbit¨Msecond), the system developed by J. A. Davila-Pintle et al. had the advantage of being much more simple compared with purely electronic modulators which incorporate non linear devices like diodes, transistors and require electronic filters.

The AZojomo* article is available to view at http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=3409

*AZojomo publishes high quality articles and papers on all aspects of materials science and related technologies. All the contributions are reviewed by a world class panel of editors who are experts in a wide spectrum of materials science. [See http://www.azom.com/Journal%20Editorial%20Board.asp]

AZojomo is based on the patented OARS (Open Access Rewards System) publishing protocol. The OARS protocol represents a unique development in the field of scientific publishing ¨C the distribution of online scientific journal revenue between the authors, peer reviewers and site operators with no publication charges, just totally free to access high quality, peer reviewed materials science. [See http://www.azom.com/azojomo.asp and http://www.azom.com/oars.asp]

---

---